Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance the preparations which have taken place regarding a replacement for the national development plan; and the way in which the inputs will be cobbled into a coherent programme. [7970/06]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress of the consultation process promised in advance of the introduction of a new national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7871/06]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for changes in the way in which a successor to the NDP will be drawn up. [7952/06]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for the allocation of funding under the next national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7800/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 73, 105 and 127 together.

The Government announced last August its decision to prepare a successor to the current National Development Plan, 2000-2006. The next NDP will cover the period 2007-2013 and its preparation will be co-ordinated by my Department. A high level steering group chaired by my Department and comprising senior officials of relevant Departments has been established to oversee the drafting of the plan and has met on a number of occasions to date.

An extensive consultation process on the next national development plan has commenced. My Department has written, inviting submissions on the plan from the social partners, the regional assemblies, the regional authorities and other interested parties such as the Heritage Council, Comhar and the Combat Poverty Agency. My Department has also engaged the Economic and Social Research Institute to carry out an ex-ante evaluation of investment priorities for the period of the next NDP.

The content and focus of the next NDP and the resultant allocations and prioritisation will be a matter for decision by Government. In doing so, the Government will take account of the recommendations of the ESRI study and the results of the consultation process. I envisage that the new plan will address the investment now necessary to maintain national competitiveness within a sustainable economic and budgetary framework. It will also set out a coherent investment strategy at sectoral level with particular reference to the infrastructure investment necessary to meet economic and social challenges. In addition, the plan will address the following horizontal themes: the implementation of the national spatial strategy; the all-island dimension and the potential benefits of cross-Border co-operation; the promotion of social inclusion; and environmental sustainability.