Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Transport, further to Parliamentary Question No. 560 of 30 January 2008, the responsibility of the Government in relation to policy direction, in view of the Government naming Derry as a gateway in the national development spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4720/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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A North West Gateway Initiative (NWGI) chaired jointly by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the office of First Minister/Deputy First Minister has been established to provide a co-ordinated cross border approach to the development of the region. I understand that a draft spatial planning framework report has been prepared and is currently being considered by the NWGI senior officials group with a view to producing a final report for approval by the two Governments later this year.

More broadly in relation to all island planning, my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government together with his NI counterpart is developing a framework for collaboration on spatial planning and development. While these developments provide a framework for co-ordination and consultation in relation to infrastructural investment, including in railway services, decisions in relation to capital projects and programmes remain a matter in the first instance for the national and local authorities concerned.