Vol. 557 No. 4
473 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he proposes to put in place in relation to his statement earlier in 2002 in relation to the difficulties people are encountering in respect of their wishes to reside in rural Ireland. [22251/02]
As the Deputy is aware, I have spoken many times, as Minister of State with responsibility for rural development, on the need for a settlement pattern that would allow for the regeneration of rural areas, particularly those which have suffered continuous decline. My Department was represented on the inter-departmental steering group set up to prepare the National Spatial Strategy. My concerns were articulated at the various meetings of this group and were taken into account in preparing the strategy.
