1st November 2001

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CALLS FOR RAIL REVIVAL IN NATIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY

The Green Party has called for a massive investment in Ireland's railway network in its submission to the National Spatial Strategy. It called for new growth centres to be located at existing and proposed railway nodes. It also called for a new passenger and rail line connecting Derry in Northern Ireland with Sligo, Galway and Limerick, using existing and former rail lines for much of the route.

"If we are serious about developing the Borders, Midland and Western Regions we must provide a strong rail network that links them together " stated Ciarán Cuffe, the Green Party's Planning spokesperson today. "Currently almost all our transport network is based on Dublin as a hub. We must allow the regions to develop their economic and social potential. We believe that the Island's rail network should be used as a basis for informing the location of significant new development over the next twenty years."

The Party stated that urban generated rural settlement and low-density suburban development appears to be increasing, and this pattern needs to be reversed. It is unsustainable to provide large numbers of on-off houses and ribbon development in the country-side. We must revive our rural areas, but we do not wish to see people commuting long distances by car to our towns and cities. Instead we must promote intensive agriculture and expand tourism in rural areas based on our 'green' image, as well as developing a better quality of life in our cities and towns. Existing villages must be supported and expanded.

This involves promoting better urban design; green space; and play, cultural and sporting facilities. It shall also include incentives for developing under-utilised and brown-field sites. The key is to encourage a vibrant mixture of land uses in our towns and villages to make them more attractive, as well as promoting higher density mixed-use development.

ENDS, (full submission on request)

For further information contact:

  Ciarán Cuffe, 087 265 2075 or 618 3082

  Stephen Rawson, Press Officer 087 235 7551