Written Answers. - National Spatial Strategy.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
161
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the progress made to date in regard to the implementation of the National Spatial Strategy published in November 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12968/03]
Ciarán Cuffe
Question:
174
Mr. Cuffe
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the changes in his Department's capital and current spending programme which have occurred due to changes in policy resulting from the National Spatial Strategy.
[13031/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 174 together.
The Government published the National Spatial Strategy or 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 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.
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 were 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. I have recently made regulations and issued directions under the Planning and Development Act, 2000 to provide additional legislative support for this process.
Structures and mechanisms to integrate the NSS into planning and activities at Government, departmental, State agency, regional and local level have been 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 Forfas regional investment strategy. 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.
In adopting the NSS, the Government decided that the strategy will be an important factor in the prioritisation of capital investment, and in the allocation of sectoral investment, which in the case of my Department includes investment in water services, non-national roads and social housing provision. My Department's expenditure programmes will support the implementation of the strategy over its 20 year life. The strategy will form a key input into this year's mid term review of the national development plan.
Question No. 162 answered with Question No. 139.
