Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

Most of the issues to which Deputy Tuffy referred are strategic in nature and would be considered as valid amendments in that context.

In regard to Deputy Hogan's comments, the national spatial strategy was prepared from the end of 2000 and published in November 2002, thus predating the coming into operation of the directive and the regulations. Consequently, the NSS does not fall within the time remit of the directive. The Deputy is, therefore, incorrect to state that what I am doing is illegal. Our proposals in the Bill are, in fact, entirely legal and progressive.

He used the word "dictation" but the Bill does the opposite by allowing local people to make local decisions. I believe it will result in less intervention from central government because it will allow more robust and sustainable decisions to be made at a local level. To give an example, I had a meeting earlier with a group concerned about the western rail link. In light of the reinstatement of the rail link between Limerick and Galway, it is seeking a further extension of the western rail corridor, on which there has been a fantastic grassroots campaign for many years. We discussed the connection between land use and transportation as well as the need for local authorities to prioritise where they want development to take place to maximise the significant Government investment in the railways in the coming years. It is not of any use if there is no connection between decisions on transport, education, health and where people are and will be in future. For this reason, it is important to refresh the national spatial strategy and establish a connection between regional planning guidelines drawn up by democratically elected councillors and local authorities. Coherence is needed from the national stage all the way down to the community hall and this is what the Bill achieves. It will also save money for the taxpayer and result in better decision making.

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