Vol. 560 No. 3
158 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his Department is liaising with the Department of Health and Children in relation to the retention of hospital services in the hub and gateway towns of Monaghan and Dundalk, as outlined in the NSS document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2283/03]
My Department has not had any specific contacts with the Department of Health and Children on the issue of retaining hospital services at any particular location. I have no function in relation to health service provision, which is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children.
The national spatial strategy has been adopted by the Government as a spatial planning framework which will guide Departments and agencies in formulating and implementing policies and public investment decisions which have a strong spatial dimension or which may otherwise be affected by spatial considerations. In pursuing the objective of more balanced regional development the strategy will – in conjunction with regional planning guidelines which will give effect to the strategy at regional level and more detailed local authority development plans – seek to integrate planning for where people live and work more closely with policies for spatially balanced provision of, and access to, key social infrastructure, such as educational and healthcare provision.
