Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy, like me, represents a constituency very much affected by the spill-over from Dublin. Let me give a couple of examples of how the national spatial strategy links directly into that. The five-year capital investment envelopes which have been agreed reflect the strategy. It is particularly important to find out the infrastructural needs regarding the western corridor. The high density rail-based corridor in Cork is directly related to the strategy and is providing additional public transport to 20,000 homes.

The national spatial strategy has significance even within the Dublin area. On the creation of a more compact Dublin, the idea behind the plans for Dublin city, Fingal, south Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is to promote substantial housing output in those areas. However, one encounters problems other than those I have mentioned and Deputy Gilmore will be able to speak at length on the problems associated with increased density in his constituency. Getting the balance right is a challenge but the national spatial strategy is a good template against which to do so.

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