Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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522. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to set out his plans to re-introduce the National Spatial Strategy, focusing on gateways and hubs in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17206/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The 2002 National Spatial Strategy(NSS) was Ireland’s first national strategic spatial planning framework and outlined policies and objectives to secure 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, and nine hub towns, together with complementary policies to activate the potential for lasting economic development in their hinterlands and wider regions.

The NSS remains in place, but having regard to the significantly changed economic circumstances the Government recently approved the commencement of the preparation of a new National Planning Framework as a successor to the NSS. Arrangements in this regard will now be put in place and this will be a significant area of activity during 2015.

I intend that the new National Planning Framework will be developed to maximise Ireland’s economic recovery and on-going growth at national, regional and local level, thus further contributing to sustainable national recovery through an inclusive and participative approach with all relevant national, regional and local interests and acting as the strategic context for:

1) planning in Ireland at national level, in relation to relevant Government policies and investment concerning national and regional development with particular emphasis on economic development and investment in housing, water services, transport, communications, energy, health and education infrastructure;

2) development, by the three new regional assemblies, of their new regional spatial and economic strategies, and

3) planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála discharging in their statutory planning functions.

I will make a further statement in the near future on broader arrangements in relation to the preparation of the Framework.