With the publication of the initial Ireland 2040 National Planning Framework Plan I am urging the people of Galway and Mayo to make their views known during the consultation process.
The initial plan, which has been published by the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney TD, sets out the current position of the country and the issues and choices facing us.
This first step in the design of the Ireland 2040 National Planning Framework is an opportunity for us in Galway, Mayo and the West to make our views known as to how we want to manage the growth and development of our counties, region and country over the next twenty years.
Creating a twenty year strategy for the development of our country is a very ambitious task but a vital one. We need to tackle the unbalanced development of our country which sees over one third of the population in the Dublin region and over half in Leinster.
On current levels we will have over one million more people in Ireland by 2040 and we will have, at over one million, the highest number of senior citizens than ever before. We will also have much greater demand for higher education and employment.
It is crystal clear that we need to plan for this growth which impacts on all areas including housing, transport, communications, health, the economy, agri-food, and the environment. This is our opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and the legacy of bad planning. It is our opportunity to create a counterbalance to Dublin along the West coast.
I encourage everyone to get involved, to learn about the issues and the choices facing us, to help this strategy which will shape Ireland. Visit the Ireland 2040 website or contact TDs or councillors or community organisations. It is vital that we create the most comprehensive plan possible as the future of our country depends on it.
The Ireland 2040 National Planning Framework consultation document is available at www.ireland2040.ie