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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 3

Written Answers. - National Spatial Strategy.

Seán Ryan

Question:

164 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans for the implementation of the national spatial strategy published in November 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2393/03]

The Government published the national spatial strategy on 28 November 2002. Since then I have organised and attended a series of roadshows in every region of the country to spread the message of the NSS and start the process of teasing out how it will unfold in each region. Representatives of a wide cross-section of interests attended the roadshows, including the local media, regional and local authorities, official and semi-official bodies and agencies, businesses and commercial interests, academic institutions, local organisations and societies. The purpose of the roadshows was to set out the purpose and objectives of the strategy, with a view to encouraging the active participation of all relevant bodies and interests in its implementation.

In leading the implementation of the strategy it is my intention to establish and support the necessary interaction, monitoring and other mechanisms to achieve consistency between the NSS and the spatial aspects of all relevant public policies and programmes. Structures and mechanisms are therefore being put in place to integrate the strategy into planning and activities at Government, departmental, state agency, regional and local level. This will ensure that the strategy informs the spatial aspects of public sector planning, policies and programmes and assists in the determination of investment priorities.

One of the main priorities in the early stages of rolling out the national spatial strategy is to get work started immediately on the preparation and adoption of regional planning guidelines under the Planning and Development Act 2000 to give effect to and support the implementation of strategy at regional level. These guidelines will be drawn up within the national planning framework set out in the NSS while providing more detailed strategic guidance at regional level, which will in turn guide planning authorities in framing their county and city development plans. The purpose of this is to ensure that spatial policies at national, regional and local levels are consistent. My Department will shortly issue detailed guidance to assist regional authorities, working in partnership with local authorities and other relevant interests, in the major task of preparing and adopting regional planning guidelines by the early part of next year.
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