The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, has invited submissions on regional development under the National Development Plan.
Mr Dempsey said yesterday that wide consultation with the public, the social partners, local representatives and community organisations would be necessary to ensure a balanced regional growth over the next seven years.
The submissions will make up the National Spatial Strategy, which will decide on major road and housing projects as well as public and private transport developments in rural centres.
The Labour Party spokesman on the environment, Mr Eamon Gilmore, last night asked what the use of a consultative process
was when a seven-year spending plan has already been put in place.
