Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Ar an gcéad dul síos ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl don Seanadóir as ucht na ceiste thábhachtach seo a ardú. The Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, regrets that he cannot be in the House to respond to the important matter raised by the Senator. I am, however, pleased to have the opportunity to respond.

The main objective of the national spatial strategy, which was published last week, is to achieve more balanced development of the country along with a better quality of life for everyone. Vibrant urban and rural areas and a better environment are also aims of the strategy. In drawing up the strategy we were aware of the special position of the midlands and the pressures it faces as a result of being so close to the greater Dublin area. Clearly it was important to create self-sustaining urban areas in the midlands. There was also a recognition that gateways must be able to sustain a population of around 100,000 in the city and its hinterlands.

The necessary scale and critical mass can be established if a number of towns work together, as is to happen in the midlands. Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore will work together as a linked gateway. All three towns are reasonably near each other, are strategically located on or near national road, rail, energy and communications links and have appropriate infrastructure and facilities. In harnessing these complementary strengths the link gateway will create scale and critical mass for the region. The trend of long distance commuting to nearby cities such as Dublin will be countered through this approach.

The national development plan includes provision for expenditure of €4.4 billion up to 2006 on water services infrastructure. The groundwork to support many of the aims of the national spatial strategy has already been done by the progress made to date under the current national development plan and successive water services investment programmes. While all major capital programmes will have to be reviewed to establish how they best reflect the infrastructural requirements arising from the national spatial strategy, €138 million allocated for County Westmeath under the current water services investment programme will leave Mullingar particularly well placed to realise the objectives of the strategy.