Pat Rabbitte
Question:89 Mr. Rabbitte 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. [8759/03]
Written Answers - National Spatial Strategy.
The Government published the National Spatial Strategy, NSS, on 28 November 2002 as a 20 year planning framework designed to enable every part of the country to achieve its potential.
The strategy aims to build up the strengths of all areas 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.
Regional and local authorities are key players in taking forward the NSS, starting with the preparation and adoption by regional authorities of regional planning guidelines under the Planning and Development Act 2000. Immediately following the publication of the NSS I attended a number of events at regional level to brief a wide cross-section of interested parties on the NSS and start the process of rolling it out to the regions.
In February 2003, guidance notes for regional authorities on preparing regional planning guidelines have been issued by my Department to all regional authorities. Regional authorities, working in partnership with local authorities, have now commenced this work with the aim of ensuring that the guidelines are in place in all regions by early 2004.
Structures and mechanisms to integrate the NSS into planning and activities at Government, departmental, State agency, regional and local level are also being put in place to ensure that the strategy directs the spatial aspects of public sector planning, policies and programmes, including the determination of investment priorities. Already, the NSS has shaped the strategic rail review and the development of the Forfás regional investment strategy. The NSS will also influence the mid term review of the national development plan to be completed this year. An interdepartmental steering group, similar to that which oversaw preparation of the strategy, will now oversee its implementation.
The successful development of gateways and hubs will require the putting in place of integrated spatial frameworks for land use, planning, urban design, transport and public service delivery. The relevant local authorities have primary responsibility for driving the preparation of these frameworks, in consultation with relevant public agencies, including those responsible for the provision of transport and other infrastructure, and translating them into statutory development plans to guide the development process. Work on the preparation of such frameworks is well advanced in some gateways, and other gateways and hubs are being advised to advance their plans as quickly as possible.