Vol. 573 No. 3
741 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the changes that have been made in her Department's plans, programmes, policies and spending arising from the publication of the Government's national spatial strategy. [25423/03]
The Government published the national spatial strategy in November 2002. My Department was involved in the development of the strategy and the Department is represented on the interdepartmental committee established in May 2003 by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to oversee its implementation.
Work has commenced in my Department to identify the issues arising for it from the national spatial strategy. The main areas of potential impact identified at this point are in relation to: infrastructural strategies and plans, for example, accommodation, telephony, information communications technology; and any proposals for organisational restructuring or decentralisation which might arise.
The recommendations contained within the national spatial strategy will inform the ongoing development of my Department's programmes and plans in these areas.
