Publication by the Labour Party of a national spatial plan is a welcome addition to public debate on the kind of society we should seek to develop over the next 15 years. The ideas put forward by Mr Ruairi Quinn and his colleagues are not definitive or prescriptive. They are, in effect, broad outlines of policy that may be refined through public debate and consultation. But they have their roots in a party approach that opposed the division of the State into distinct development regions attracting varying levels of EU and Government grants. The thrust of Labour policy would appear to link and develop towns exceeding 10,000 in population, through the provision of modern infrastructure, rather than spend money on deprived, peripheral areas or create new cities.
Although the plan acknowledges the dominance of large towns in the east and south of the country and the need to counter-balance this by developing a synergy between the major urban centres in the west, there is little evidence of follow-through where large tracts of the west and south-west are concerned. Instead, the Labour Party lays particular emphasis on developing the North/South economy by way of road, rail, canal, broadband technology, and through gas and electricity networks. And there are suggestions for the linkage of towns on both sides of the border. In the State as a whole, the creation of modern networks between adjacent towns and cities, rather than the development of large, industrialised gateways, is the favoured option.
The most contentious aspect of the plan involves a ban on all new development within one kilometre of the seashore, outside of zoned urban areas. Such a step is advocated "in the interests of maintaining the character of the coastline and to recognise the effects of global warming". The ban may be extended to the River Shannon catchment and to other sensitive waterways in order to protect water reserves. In the same vein, heavy industry and large industrial estates, waste incineration, large scale pig farming and holiday villages of more than 100 dwellings would be prohibited along large tracts of scenic coastline and river catchments.
A proposal to bring gas from the Corrib field ashore in Sligo, in order to service the north-west and border regions, along with Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, is certain to anger Mayo voters. Existing plans would see the gas come ashore in Mayo. In the midlands, the plan envisages the development of new and improved regional airports at Athlone/Abbeyshrule and at Kilkenny. And, in relation to seaports, new and expanded facilities are proposed for Loughshinney, north of Dublin, and for Arklow, Rosslare, Waterford/Belview, Belfast, Sligo and Limerick/Foynes.
Given the comprehensive nature of the Labour Party's blueprint for the economic and social development of the country, it would be surprising if it did not generate some negative feedback. After all, as Mr Quinn said, the choices made in the plan are deeply ideological and fundamentally about values. No doubt they will add flavour and depth to the debate that is now getting under way.