Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Even though there was some good thinking in that plan, it was not followed through in terms of ensuring the aspirations of the national spatial strategy were met by means of the hubs and spokes and regional drivers of growth. It was good thinking but it has not come to fruition because of the dominance of Dublin in particular in terms of its magnetism for job creation and population. We have seen enormous growth in many towns and villages where that was never planned for and we must ensure that does not happen in the future. I agree with Deputy Cowen that this time around we need to make sure that we have, in effect, a new spatial strategy and a new national plan that will ensure we drive investment, growth and opportunity into all parts of Ireland. The process we will go through to get us there will allow us to achieve that.

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