Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his view on the report entitled Urban Sprawl in Europe the Ignored Challenge from the European Environmental Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42520/06]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the fact that Dublin's planning was recently cited as a worst case scenario by the EEA report, Urban Sprawl in Europe the Ignored Challenge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42605/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 107 together.

Ireland is experiencing huge levels of population growth across all counties, with the national population rising by over 8% in the last four years alone. This unparalleled growth, together with unprecedented economic expansion have placed large demands on housing and associated infrastructures. This represents a new challenge for the regional balance of development across the country, and for dealing with increasing pressures in the urban environs of Dublin.

The Government has acted swiftly and on a broad front to ensure that the provision of new houses and apartments is undertaken in a manner that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. A key policy response has been the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), which was published in November 2002.

The NSS calls for a more balanced spread of economic activity in Ireland, but recognises that we must support and enhance the competitiveness of the Greater Dublin Area so that it continues to perform at the international and national level as a driver of national development. The NSS also accepts that it is not sustainable that Dublin should continue to spread outwards into counties on its periphery and beyond. To address this, the Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) for the Greater Dublin Area emphasise that it is necessary to consolidate the physical growth of the Dublin metropolitan area, the city and suburbs, while at the same time concentrating development in the hinterland into strategically placed, strong and dynamic urban centres.

The principles of the RPGs are now reflected in city and county development plans in the Greater Dublin Area and the effects of these policies are being seen in more integrated and strategic planning policies at local level. Moreover, the 1999 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Residential Density included specific objectives for more compact urban development by seeking to assist planning authorities in achieving high quality residential density at appropriate locations, in conjunction with improved public transport systems. These guidelines are currently being reviewed and updated to take account of changing population and settlement patterns and the extensive experience built up since the introduction of the 1999 guidelines in the design, assessment and development of higher density proposals.

I am confident that the continuing implementation of the policies outlined above will have a positive influence on bringing about more compact urban design and sustainable development into the future.