Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
82. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a commitment in the Programme for Government in relation to the Shannon Estuary (details supplied); when the strategy will be developed; and the person or body that will develop it. [41932/20]
View answerProject Ireland 2040 places a particular focus on investment in our rural towns and villages and in ensuring that Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, grow at twice the pace of Dublin. The National Development Plan (NDP) sets out the medium-term investment priorities that will underpin the successful implementation of the National Planning Framework. The review of the NDP, which commenced recently, will allow for an alignment of investment with economic recovery, strategic areas of importance outlined in the Programme for Government and preparation for the post-crisis economy. The NDP Review will seek to deliver a competitive, resilient and regionally balanced recovery.
Detailed and ambitious Regional, Economic and Spatial Strategies were developed by Ireland’s three Regional Assemblies under Project Ireland 2040. The Southern Region’s strategy includes a Metropolitan Spatial Area Plan for the Limerick-Shannon region and provides a comprehensive assessment of opportunities available to guide future development, and clear set of policy and quality-of-life objectives for regional, local and national bodies to jointly pursue for the Limerick and Shannon area. These strategies for our regions set out to align economic, transport, planning and ecological objectives in a way that is place specific, and informed by local stakeholders.
In addition, my Department’s nine Regional Enterprise Plans to 2020 play a central role in supporting the delivery of balanced regional development, including for the Mid-West region. The Mid-West Plan is focused on a number of objectives aimed at developing the region’s capacity to deliver economic growth and is being implemented by a Steering Committee involving the enterprise agencies, local enterprise offices, local authorities, higher and further education bodies, private sector and others.
I am considering the Programme for Government commitment in relation to the Shannon Estuary and how Government can best deliver this.
