Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will not quibble but I think we did hold a debate on the spatial strategy. I think the Deputy is asking where we will go in that regard in the future. I am not saying the matter should not be debated in the House or in committees but the whole concept of the spatial strategy is that the local authorities in the first instance would have a large input into the basic guidelines which form the strategy as well as the centres and hubs for the future. They have a role in framing the guidelines for the future so they are not merely drawn up centrally but also through detailed local involvement. That is happening all over the country. As I understand it, most of the guidelines have now been drawn up.

Deputy Kenny is correct in saying that for the next 15 or 20 years there are enormous challenges faced by the relevant unit in the Department to co-ordinate the work and the guidelines with the local authorities because Ireland's population is projected to increase to 5 million in a short period of time. I am conscious the projections were not accurate if one looks back at the past 20 years. At one stage the population was projected as being less than 3.5 million by 2010 while the current projection for 2020 is 5 million.

There is a huge challenge in all of this. The guidelines have given rise to considerable debate. In Dublin city, more planners are trying to convince public representatives and others that the only way the city can now develop is upwards. I disagree with that but it is happening. In other areas people are looking at other issues. The ratios must increase in Dublin city as otherwise one will have sprawl everywhere. All these issues are reflected in the guidelines.

I am not sure if a committee of the House has looked at these issues but I know from the committee dealing with infrastructure there is a huge amount of work being done in the system, not merely in local authorities but in the various sections of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The studies done by those co-ordinating these matters are very good because they have looked ahead not merely to the next five or ten years but to the next 20 or 25 years. Admittedly we do not spend much time on these longer projections but at least there are people who specialise in that and they have done some good work in their projections for up to 30 years ahead.

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