Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the national spatial strategy is relevant in view of recent population trends; if he will place the strategy or a revised strategy before the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35916/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The 2002 National Spatial Strategy (NSS) sets out a 20-year Strategy aimed at achieving a better balance of social, economic and physical development across Ireland, supported by more effective planning. Regional Planning Guidelines made in mid-2004 as a key implementation mechanism for the NSS are now under review with the intention of adopting new Regional Planning Guidelines by the middle of next year. Since the current Regional Planning Guidelines were published, 2006 census and other data have become available providing a more updated analysis of recent population trends. In January 2009, my Department set out population targets for 2016 and 2022 for each of the eight regional authority areas having regard to the most recent data available; the population targets must be incorporated into the updated Regional Planning Guidelines.

The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 contains key provisions linking development at local level with population targets contained in the Regional Planning Guidelines and with regional development objectives set out in both the Guidelines and the NSS; the passage of the Bill through the Oireachtas provides an opportunity to debate this issue. My Department is currently finalising an NSS Review and Outlook Report which will take stock of NSS achievements to date and outline remaining challenges and actions to enable the NSS 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. Section WRB follows.