Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that communication lines between his Department and local authority level are adequate to properly advance the agenda of aligning transport, spatial and land use policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47316/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, along with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and the local authorities around the country, has long recognised the importance of integrating transport, spatial and land use policies.

Good lines of communication at several levels are obviously essential to ensure that this happens. I am satisfied that such communications are currently in place.

My Department is working closely with Local Authorities in a number of ways in promoting integrated Land Use and Transportation Planning. My officials have frequent contact with the relevant local authorities in the NSS Gateways which currently have land use and transport strategies in place. For example, my Department, through the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) Steering Group and through bilateral meetings with the Cork local authorities has inputted extensively to the recent update of the CASP.

In addition, I myself, and my officials, have met with the City and County Managers Association (CCMA) about the preparation of integrated transport and land use plans for the NSS Gateways and Hubs which currently do not have land use and transport strategies in place.

In addition, I have made provision in the DTA Act for close alignment of transport and spatial planning for the Greater Dublin Area. On a broader strategic level my officials have been working very closely with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in ensuring that the proposed Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan addresses greater integration of these issues. Furthermore, the CCMA was represented on the Interdepartmental Working Group which oversaw the draft Action Plan.