Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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411. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the funding his Department has allocated to Sligo County Council since 2002 towards implementing Gateway City status under the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10444/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, 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. The Strategy set out a broad framework for use in spatial planning by regional and local authorities as well as the planning of investment by the public and private sectors in providing infrastructure such as roads, public transport, energy and communications links. The NSS has influenced two National Development Plans and continues to be a key reference document in planning legislation. In addition, all county & city development plans are required to be consistent with Regional Planning Guidelines in force for their area. The strategy is intended as a Planning Framework rather than a spending plan so spending in my Department is not specifically accounted for in relation to locations such as Sligo.

Nevertheless, my Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including the water sector, providing necessary housing supports and fostering community development in partnership with local government and other local development bodies. In order to deliver on this broad business agenda, my Department allocates significant resources to a wide range of organisations, including local authorities.

In relation to Sligo County Council the re have been significant capital projects that have benefitted from funding from my Department over the last number of years, including some €28m which was recouped to the Council under the Water Services Investment Programme since 2002 and over €22m in the Cranmore Regeneration Project since 2006, with both areas of investment benefitting Sligo and its role as a Gateway under the NSS.