Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the strategic corridor frameworks for the Atlantic gateway cities as set out in Building Ireland's Smart Economy - A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal 2009 to 2014 have been completed; the conclusions reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17629/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The 2002 National Spatial Strategy recommended the development of an Atlantic Gateways corridor, linking the gateway cities of Galway, Limerick/Shannon, Cork and Waterford, to create an inter-connected network of co-operating and complementary cities which would help to secure more balanced regional development across the western and southern parts of the island of Ireland, and complement the economic and demographic growth being experienced in the Greater Dublin Area and along the eastern part of the island between Dublin and Belfast.

The Atlantic Gateways Initiative Report was published in September 2006, with recommended actions and timescales, outlining how the four gateway cities could collaboratively create a critical mass for future economic development and the benefits that would accrue to the cities, their wider regions and the State as a whole.

On foot of this report extensive analysis has been undertaken by the relevant local and regional authorities involved, with the support of my Department and in consultation with key stakeholders, to prepare Atlantic Gateway Corridor Frameworks for each of the four corridors: Cork to Limerick; Waterford to Cork; Galway to Limerick and Limerick to Waterford. The Corridor Frameworks will outline how the four cities and their intervening regions can develop in a strategic and collaborative way, and will identify key actions and policies to foster greater synergies and address long-term strategic issues.

The four Corridor Frameworks will be finalised and published in the second half of 2009 by the local and regional authorities involved and the key recommendations incorporated into the relevant statutory plans. My Department will publish a high-level Atlantic Gateways Corridor Framework Summary, which will identify common principles and recommendations emerging from the individual Frameworks.