Vol. 528 No. 1
68 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made to date in regard to preparations for the national spatial strategy; when the strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29448/00]
Substantial progress has been made on the mandate given by the Government to my Department to prepare a national spatial strategy which will translate the overall approach to regional development contained in the national development plan into a more detailed framework for spatial development in Ireland over the next 20 years.
On foot of that mandate, my Department established a spatial planning unit to manage the preparation of the strategy. An interdepartmental steering committee, with representation from all relevant departments, established to oversee the development of the strategy at policy level, has met on a number of occasions. The interdepartmental committee is supported by a technical working group and sub-groups to facilitate a co-ordinated input to the preparation of the strategy from departments, State agencies, regional assemblies and other bodies whose policies, functions or operations are relevant to achieving the objective of more balanced regional development. In addition, I have established an expert advisory group which provides a vehicle for my Department to avail of the advice of leading national and international figures in the area of spatial development and planning.
The national spatial strategy is being prepared in four stages. The first stage of the process was completed in May 2000 with the publication of a report entitled, The National Spatial Strategy – Scope and Delivery. This report sets out the background to the strategy, identifies its objectives and the challenges it faces to achieve those objectives, gives details of the work to be carried out during each stage of the process of preparing the strategy, sets out the organisational structures which have been put in place and the arrangements which have been made for the participation of relevant interests and the public generally in the process. A copy of this report has been circulated to all Members of the House.
Stage two of the process of preparing the strategy, which has just been completed, required extensive research into the spatial structure and functioning of Ireland under a number of different headings. External consultants have assisted with a number of these research projects. This research includes in-depth analysis into such areas as population and labour force projections and future housing demand broken down on a regionalised basis, the future role of Dublin in Ireland and Europe, urban and rural functioning, enterprise development, quality of life issues, transport infrastructure, energy, educational access, environmental protection and availability of services.
