Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will engage with the Northern Ireland Minister for Regional Development and Intertrade Ireland to establish a formal economic link between Derry and Buncrana, which share strong cultural, historical, social, geographical and commercial connections; if he will consider applying the twin city Newry and Dundalk incorporating the wider east Border region model here; his views on whether this proposal is compatible with Shaping our Future 2025 (NI) and that it can co-exist with the Derry-Letterkenny strategic corridor programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45793/10]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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My Department enjoys a close working relationship with Northern Ireland's Department of Regional Development on cross-border areas of common interest, including in particular on joint initiatives which can help to inform and frame development and investment opportunities within a broader spatial planning context which can benefit the economies and citizens of both jurisdictions. For example, building on research commissioned by InterTrade Ireland and carried out by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD), a Framework for Collaboration on Spatial Strategies on the Island of Ireland has been drafted, which outlines the scope for strategic integration and interaction of the National Spatial Strategy and the Northern Ireland Regional Development Strategy to provide a shared spatial planning context on an all-island basis.

A number of sub-regional cross-border initiatives are also being progressed. In relation to the North West of the island, the North West Gateway Initiative has been established to explore ways of developing closer co-operation and partnership between Donegal County Council and Derry City, Strabane Town and Limavady Town Councils to maximise the potential of the North West area.

As part of this Initiative, a high-level integrated spatial planning framework has been prepared jointly by the two Departments, in consultation with the local councils and regional representative bodies, for the main urban centres in the area, focusing on the Derry-Letterkenny linked gateway and the four local council areas of Derry, Strabane, Limavady and Donegal. The non-statutory framework is based on shared objectives for:

· attracting national and international investment;

· improving connectivity, both within the region and between the region and the rest of the island;

· facilitating more co-ordinated and accessible services and activities to enhance citizens' quality of life; and

· providing a more coherent approach to planning for future development in the region.

It is within this context that economic and other links between these Council areas, including potential links between Buncrana and Derry, can be explored.