Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 484: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the analysis of sectoral programmes for the national spatial strategy has been completed; and the conclusions that have been drawn. [17628/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The National Development Plan 2007-2013 (NDP) includes cross-cutting objectives for balanced regional development and endorses the National Spatial Strategy as a key policy instrument for achieving this. Annual monitoring of NDP expenditure on capital programmes, undertaken by the Department of Finance, includes specific analysis on the extent and effectiveness of the Plan's horizontal policy objectives, including alignment of sectoral programmes with the NSS principles and priorities.

The 2008 Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal: Building Ireland's Smart Economy indicated that an analysis of National Spatial Strategy (NSS) implementation and an assessment of the extent to which sectoral programmes are aligned with the NSS were to be undertaken. My Department is currently finalising a NSS Review and Outlook Report which takes stock of NSS achievements to date and outlines remaining challenges and actions to enable spatial planning and NSS principles to contribute to national economic renewal and enhanced competitiveness, through for example better alignment and prioritisation of sectoral infrastructure investment, especially in the Gateway cities which act as economic drivers for their wider regions, and promotion of more sustainable patterns of development through more effective, evidence-based planning policies at regional and local levels. This report will be supplemented by the Department's analysis of strategic developing areas in NSS Gateways and Hubs which will be completed shortly.