Development plan a chance for Sligo to ‘ be a city again’
THE Government’s rural development plan, Ireland 2040 offered Sligo real opportunities, Minister Simon Coveney stated.
“There’s a really important opporunity for Sligo to be a regional driver for the North West,” he said.
He wanted Sligo to “put in a plan that reflects your ambitions for this town in terms of where you want to take it in the future.
“Some people will say this should be a city again and you’ll have a plan for that. Others will have differnt plans for both the county and town.
“So, what I want to hear is ambition, new thinking and then we’ll factor that in to the process of trying to finalise a new national plan in terms of how all of the towns and cities in rural parts of the country link up together and to have that in place by September.
“It’s a pretty ambitious project but I’ve already got some really strong and interesting and positive feedbackfrom Sligo which is exactly what we are looking for.” He referenced the Counci’s well known financial difficulties. “I know Sligo as a County Council has been under financial pressure and we’re trying to work that through with you and I can assure you we will continue to do that and make big projects like Cranmore the next phase of development as well as many others happen. in the next number of months and not necessarily in the next number of years.”
The Minister launched the Northern and Western Regional Consultation for the preparation of a strategic planning and development framework for Ireland between now and 2040, at The Model and was the first the first in a series of regional events in preparing Ireland 2040 – Our Plan.
Minister Coveney said:“Ireland 2040 – Our Plan is a discussion about how to secure sustained, long- term and regionally balanced progress on social, economic and environmental fronts.
“Now is the time to think about the longerterm future of all parts of this island – and how to plan for that future. This paper is the start of a major consultation process so that we can avoid the planning mistakes of the past. Every place in Ireland has its role to play in shaping our future and the North and West is no different.”
“While we face many challenges presently, we know we need to think ahead for a radically different Ireland of 2040.” This included a population increase of around 1 million; More than one- fifth the population being over 65; More than 500,000 additional people at work; 500,000 homes needing locations much closer to services and amenities and rebuilding community and commercial life in the hearts of cities and towns and protecting the many qualities of our rural communities. 0