Vol. 558 No. 3
13 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the long promised national spatial plan will be published; if the plan has now been approved by the Government; the reason for the long delay in publishing the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23880/02]
32 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in view of the recent Census of Population which showed an alarming anomaly in the population imbalance in a country as small as Ireland, the measures the Government will take to redress this population imbalance; his views on whether the regions should be given greater autonomy; when the National Spatial Policy will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16904/02]
54 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received the National Spatial Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23895/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 32 and 54 together.
The National Spatial Strategy was published earlier today and a copy has been sent to each Member of the Oireachtas.
The strategy represents a 20-year planning framework designed to enable every part of the country to develop to its potential. It recognises that various regions have different roles and aims to organise and co-ordinate these roles in a complementary way. The strategy's objective is to allow regions to be become more competitive in terms of investment and job opportunities, while ensuring a high quality urban environment, as well as vibrant rural areas.
The strategy aims to build up the strengths of different areas in order to achieve more balanced regional development and population growth. It recognises that a greater share of economic activity must take place outside the greater Dublin area. To achieve this, the strategy sets out a framework within which gateways, hubs and other urban and rural areas will act together to allow areas to grow.
In completing the strategy my Department has had the benefit of an extensive public consultation process and has sought to take account of the spatial aspects of a wide range of economic, social and environmental policies in collaboration with other Departments, agencies and bodies primarily responsible for these policies. The strategy also has regard to current trends in population growth, including the preliminary results of the 2002 census, and seeks to address the issues arising from these.
