Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way he plans to address the impact of the removal of the gateway designation for Letterkenny/Derry as a result of the decision to abandon the National Spatial Strategy. [20297/13]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if an assessment was carried out on the impact of the removal of the gateway designation for Letterkenny/Derry in advance of the decision to abandon the National Spatial Strategy. [20298/13]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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50. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the consultations he held with regional authorities and local authorities regarding to his decision to abolish the national spatiel strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20455/13]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the creation of a new national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20454/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 48, 50 and 61 together.

The 2002 National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework. It provides the spatial vision and principles to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth between regions through the co-ordinated development of nine gateway cities and towns, including the Letterkenny/Derry gateway, and nine hub towns together with complementary policies to activate the potential for lasting economic development in their hinterlands and wider regions. The NSS serves as a strategic context for spatial planning in Ireland by regional authorities in their regional planning guidelines role, and for planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála in their statutory planning functions. It also seeks to influence investment priorities particularly in transport, housing, water services, communications, energy, health and education infrastructure. The 2002 NSS has not been abolished or removed and remains in place. However, proposals will be brought to Government later this year for a roadmap to develop a successor strategy that will take account, inter alia , of our significantly changed economic circumstances and to contribute to sustainable national recovery.