The Republic is to have a new seven-year national development plan when the current one runs out at the end of 2006, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has confirmed.
The plan, which was widely anticipated, will provide for the further strategic development of services in education, regional development, health, transport and infrastructure, among other areas.
Mr O'Dea said the plan would seek particularly to address the investment necessary "to maintain national competitiveness within a sustainable economic and budgetary framework".
The National Development Plan 2000-2006, launched in 1999, was widely criticised for under-estimating the costs of major projects including spending on roads, which is expected to triple over the lifetime of the plan. Further transport spending is likely to concentrate on public transport.
The plan will also concentrate on supporting the National Spatial Strategy through the progressive deployment of technology such as broadband communications to growth centres and growth gateways.
It is to be overseen by the Department of Finance. A full consultation process involving social partners, regional interests and other concerned groups is to begin this autumn.
