Cecilia Keaveney
Question:130 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the position in relation to the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12657/01]
Written Answers - National Spatial Strategy.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:131 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether County Donegal can benefit from the national spatial strategy should the county not be fully addressed in the context of its geographical location, north of Derry; the implications this location has if future planning for investment takes out of context the influence of Derry on the north west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12661/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
My Department is making good progress on the preparation of the national spatial strategy.
Following an initial round of public consultation last year my Department completed and published a report on the scope of the strategy, setting out the issues and challenges it needed to address and a work programme to ensure its delivery by the end of this year. This was followed by a period of extensive research during which a wide range of issues such as population and labour force projections, the future role of Dublin in Ireland and Europe, urban and rural functioning, factors driving the location of enterprise, quality of life issues, infrastructure and environmental protection were analysed and assessed.
Based on the information which has been collected, my Department is preparing a series of indicative policy papers setting out the possible choices and opportunities for promoting new patterns of development throughout Ireland over the next 20 years to support the achievement of more balanced regional development through developing the potential of the country as a whole, and of different areas within the country, including Donegal. The issues which these policy papers will address include the question of improving the spatial linkages, connections and co-operative arrangements with Northern Ireland.
The policy papers will be published as soon as possible. Their publication will be followed by an intense period of consultation with regional and local interests, the social partners, sustainable development partners and other representative groups. Following that, and taking account of the responses and views received during the consultation phase, the proposals for inclusion in the strategy itself will be further developed, with a view to having the strategy submitted to the Government for approval in late autumn and published by the end of the year.
Question No. 132 answered with Question No. 129.