Derek McDowell
Question:85 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he expects to publish the Government's spatial plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19717/01]
Written Answers. - Spatial Strategy.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:300 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the position regarding the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20285/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 300 together.
I envisage that the national spatial strategy will be published as promised at the end of this year. Following an initial round of public consultation, 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 that research and taking account of further extensive consultations which have taken place at regional and local level involving the social partners, sustainable development partners and with other representative groups, I intend to publish shortly proposals for discussion on an approach to more balanced regional development together with indications of the spatial policies that might be adopted to promote new patterns of development in Ireland over the next 20 years.
Publication of the policy indications will be followed by a further intensive period of consultations. Following that, and taking account of the responses and views received during the consultation phase, proposals for inclusion in the strategy itself will be further developed with a view to having the strategy completed and published by the end of the year.