Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 875: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the specific costs, including signage, brochures, launches, consultations, advertisements, public relations, and so on incurred by the promotion of gateway status for each of the gateway and hub towns here as per the national spatial strategy; the financial benefits that each of these hubs and gateways accrued resultantly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1386/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Since 2000, Exchequer funding in excess of €1.3 million has been provided for: research in the preparation and ongoing implementation of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS); publication and launch of the NSS in November 2002; and public awareness, as well as other resources allocated to the development of associated measures such as the Atlantic Gateways Initiative and Regional Planning Guidelines.

It is not possible to disaggregate these costs on the basis of each gateway and hub. Expenditure by the relevant gateway and hub local authorities to date arising from work associated with their gateway or hub status, or information on financial benefits which may have accrued to each gateway or hub as a result of their NSS designation, is not collected by my Department and would be a matter for each relevant authority.

It is clear, however, that the gateways and hubs are generally benefiting substantially from their NSS designation. For example, investment priorities identified under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and Transport 21 have been aligned with the NSS, and sectoral capital programmes are required under the NDP Monitoring Programme to demonstrate alignment with the regional development objectives and principles outlined in the Strategy. Furthermore, specific planning initiatives such as the Atlantic Gateways Corridor Frameworks and the Letterkenny – Derry North-West Gateway Initiative are helping to prioritise investment in and between the associated gateway centres. Collectively, these measures have directed significant infrastructure and enabling investment to the gateways and hubs.