I am not convinced that the document will get us to where we need to be. I am disappointed that there have been no fundamental amendments as a result of the 2 July debate on the regional development strategy. That debate lasted several hours, and I understood that it was to serve as a contribution to the consultation process and result in amendments to the document. Six amendments were made as a result of the debate, but I will stand corrected if the Minister can show me that the document has since been radically changed. One amendment provided for the adjustment of a diagram so that it includes Harry Avery's Castle near Newtownstewart. I concede that it is important that the castle be included in the diagram, but where are the fundamental amendments based on the debate that took place in the Assembly on 2 July?

Admittedly, the Minister has been lobbied on the use of brownfield sites, and there was movement on that issue even at the last minute after the Regional Development Committee lobbied the matter further. That is to be welcomed, although we have always said that we should go beyond the 60% mark. We need to listen to people, but the strategy does not comprise a listening exercise, which is a vital ingredient.

I will detail four areas in which more should and could be done: planning; transport, with special reference to road safety; leisure, including children's play strategies and youth leisure strategies; and environment and energy policy.

Greater account needs to be taken of communities when planning decisions are made. For a long time we have called for the implementation of a community impact assessment. Environmental impact assessments are made, and we worry about what the birds, bees, flowers and trees think about a new building, but we do not ask the neighbours. How many times do I need to say that? A community impact assessment would mean that the developer would be obliged to consult the neighbours before putting up a building. That is a vital factor - it is the way to listen to the community.

I have already said that we should match the legislation of other countries. In the South of Ireland a children's play facility must be provided with every hundred houses that are built. Returning to the idea of swings and slides, we have huge sprawling housing developments without one area for children to play in. When are we going to bring about legislation to force that change? It will not happen otherwise. Alternatively, shall we retain the cul-de-sac kid mentality towards which we are moving? We say that kids can play on the streets while we worry about the safety of our car parking spaces.

On the issue of transport, I am very concerned about road safety. Traffic calming areas around schools, hospitals and residential areas are vital. A nod in that direction is made in the strategy; I welcome that, but it is not enough. The vital issue of public transport has been raised. We should be moving into an era of reduced car use and increased use of public transport. Why are we not pushing far harder for more investment in public transport? We should be investing in tram systems, light rail systems, buses and cycle lanes. A good deal more needs to be done.

In regard to leisure, have we forgotten about the importance of children's play and how it can help kids' futures? Youth leisure is also required to get our young people off the streets. There are not nearly enough facilities for the under-fives and the under-17s. We need to focus, if only at local council level, on the need to create children's play strategies so that we have play parks, children's areas, youth leisure areas, skateboard parks and other such amenities. We cannot forget them. They are just as important as car parking.

My thoughts on the environment and energy have been much influenced by the recent trip by the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee to Denmark to study energy policy - something that Sean Neeson has also mentioned. We must do more to prepare ourselves for the huge changes that will take place in the next 25 years. Next year, for example, there will be changes regarding our dependency on oil. There will also be a need for us to move into the renewable energy sector.

In chapter 12, paragraph 5.1 ('Consider the implications of climate change'), of 'Shaping our Future' it is stated that we must

We should be able to identify key areas for action, such as promoting wind energy, wave technology, tidal technology and biomass schemes. If it is being done in Denmark, there is no reason why we should not do it. What is stopping us?

I was pleased to hear the issue of waste management mentioned earlier. Denmark is not even a thousand miles away from us, and it has a waste management strategy. Denmark is way ahead of us. We need guidance, direction and greater imagination.

I welcome the hard work that has gone into the document. I welcome the fact that there was a consultation process. I also welcome the Minister's commitment to joined-up government, which is something we desperately need. I make an appeal to everyone who may be involved in any steering committee set up to implement the document: do not close this book - changes will be required very soon, and we must be prepared for them.

The first round of Members from each party has now finished. In the past 10 minutes, many Members have expressed a wish to speak. Therefore, I must reluctantly limit each Member's time to six minutes, in order to allow the Minister to wind up.

I welcome the motion and the finalisation of the regional development strategy. The strategy offers the opportunity to start a dynamic development plan for Northern Ireland over the next 25 years. I welcome the Minister's comments on how an implementation process for the strategy can be delivered. We need to have five- yearly reviews on the strategy's development.

The 'Shaping our Future' project has been a good post-devolution consultation exercise for Northern Ireland. The Department for Regional Development's plan has been published after extensive consultation and enhanced drafting over a two-year period. Senior departmental officials have been sensitive and professional in their approach to finalising this important public development project for Northern Ireland. As a member of the Regional Development Committee, I appreciate the due consideration they gave to our concerns and views throughout the consultation and development process. In his meetings with the Committee, the Minister showed due regard and consideration for the various issues that we put to him.

I welcome the fact that the regional development strategy recognises the importance of the promotion of social cohesion and economic development, along with equality of opportunity and spatial equity throughout the region. I also welcome the Minister's comments on a balanced urban/rural approach to development for the future. That is very welcome for Northern Ireland at this stage.

The concept of decentralisation of services is addressed in the strategy, and that is welcome. However, I would like the Executive to lead by example. Entire sections of Departments should be moved out of Belfast and relocated to realise the vision of balanced development right across the region. Overall, the strategy is innovative and dynamic, addressing many of our concerns about issues covered in earlier drafts. It contains many positive proposals relating to urban and rural development, transportation strategy, housing needs, environmental concerns and the tourism infrastructure.

Transport policy is vital to ensuring that the core principles of equality, choice, efficiency and accessibility, as well as environmental concerns and public safety issues, are taken into consideration. I am aware that the Department is currently devising a regional transportation strategy, and the Regional Development Committee is engaged in deliberations on that. The commitments to improve cross- border road and rail links are also welcome. It is important that the transport infrastructure be upgraded in an all-Ireland and European context. The measures to upgrade roads in Northern Ireland are long overdue, and I am pleased to read that this strategy proposes a more integrated approach to transportation in rural areas. That will improve accessibility, with, I hope, the objective of sustaining rural communities.

This strategy is an imaginative document with the capacity to address the problems associated with the uneven development of the region in the past. It is to be hoped that its proposals are not rigid and that they can be adapted and tailored, as circumstances require, to ensure that the principles of equality and social justice remain at its core.

One of the key tasks will be implementation. Securing the necessary financial resources will be the major task in realising the delivery of the regional development strategy. I hope that the interdepartmental steering group will tackle this problem in a committed way, particularly given the need for a lot of expenditure on transport infrastructure and water and sewerage investment needs. I welcome the fact that the steering group will be co-ordinating the implementation of the development strategy. The devising of local area plans is now very necessary. In my constituency, both Omagh and Strabane councils are awaiting the drawing up of the west Tyrone area plan. It is most important that it be drawn up as soon as possible so that the regional development strategy can be connected into it. A joined-up government approach will be necessary to deliver the implementation of this plan. This development plan offers a template for Northern Ireland's future. If we can achieve joined-up government among Departments, in collaboration with the district councils, then we can deliver social and economic development for all our people across the region.

I support the Minister's motion and congratulate him and the Department for bringing forward a radical and important document for the development of Northern Ireland.

I want to express my thanks to all involved in preparing the regional development strategy document. As an elected representative for Mid Ulster, I regard 'Shaping our Future' as being of particular relevance. The area that I represent has many longstanding social and economic problems that need to be addressed. I hope that this document can provide equality for all people living in rural areas. The document raises awareness of several key issues that must be remembered when developing a 25-year plan to rejuvenate Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland has a population of approximately one and a half million people, of which 60% live outside the cities of Belfast and Londonderry, and we must spread our resources fairly and not just around the east or west of the Province. 'Shaping our Future' aims to tackle inequality in health, education and living standards.

Recently hospital services in Mid Ulster were cut back. Initially we were told that it was a temporary measure, but that was only to soften the blow. If the Hayes Report recommendations are fully implemented, Tyrone will be without accident and emergency and maternity services. I cannot reconcile those developments with Government calls for equality. Where is the healthy living environment for the people of Mid Ulster?

The quality of many roads in Mid Ulster is another cause of concern. If hospital services are to be moved away from our area, the infrastructure needs to be upgraded. The safety of Mid Ulster residents is at stake because of the poor condition of our roads.

The document mentions the environment, community life and rural society. I support facilities such as churches, community organisations and other voluntary groups that contribute to the sense of belonging that is so often absent in rural settings. In my constituency, agriculture plays a vital part. Retailers in rural towns rely on farmers to buy their goods, and all benefit from the industry. For example, Cookstown is known as a market town, as it is built on agricultural roots.

I accept the need to look ahead when considering the development of Northern Ireland. I agree with the notion of diversification, yet to many farmers that means only one thing - building a golf course. Agriculture has been hit by successive disasters in the past decade. BSE and foot-and-mouth disease did most miserable damage to the industry, and the problems were compounded by financial factors such as trade enlargement, market globalisation and the strong pound.

It is one thing to suggest diversification; actually doing it is another. Farming is a way of life, not simply a job. Our farmers receive unfair treatment at the hands of those organisations that process or retail their products. For example, they get 18p for a litre of milk, yet it is sold in the shops for 90p. Revenue has been drained from rural areas because of unfair markets. That problem needs to be addressed.

Successful and sustainable development requires using those resources that we have on a scale and quality not enjoyed elsewhere. Tourism has enormous potential, and we can attract people to the natural and unspoilt beauty of Northern Ireland. Our rural areas would benefit from tourism, and I support the Sperrins and Lough Neagh as attractions. We need to raise awareness of such natural beauty spots as well as provide amenities for tourists.

Magherafelt has witnessed impressive levels of growth, particularly between 1981 and 1996. Its population has grown by almost one third, the second largest growth in any Northern Ireland urban centre. In addition, that population growth in the past year has been double the Northern Ireland average, and I am disappointed at the report's failure to recognise Magherafelt as a town of great potential.

In the past 10 years it has faced many constraints to its growth. For example, sufficient land has not been allocated for industrial, commercial and housing purposes. However, in spite of all those difficulties Magherafelt has achieved those impressive figures, and the town has an important infrastructure asset in its connection to the A29, which runs from Newry to Coleraine. In addition, the town is located in the centre of the Province, so I ask that Magherafelt be classified as a main hub.

We know that the Mid-Ulster Hospital -

The Member will bring his remarks to a close.

I conclude by summing up the areas where action under the regional development plan will affect the Mid Ulster constituency, which has been underdeveloped for far too long.

The Member's time is up.

The difficulty that we face in Mid Ulster is that no Member from there is on the Committee. While the Committee has done a good job, and I commend both the Committee and the Minister for their general approach, there are concerns for the area that I represent.

Magherafelt, a part of the Mid Ulster constituency, has not been designated as a main hub town. I cannot understand that. I notice that Cookstown has, and I welcome that. The problem is that it seems to put Magherafelt against Cookstown. I was born in the Cookstown area; I reside in the Magherafelt area; and I believe that both these towns should have been classified as main hubs. Seventeen or 18 of the district councils are identified on the map as main hubs.

Magherafelt's development, and especially its industrial development, has been curbed by the fact that its area plan is too rigid and long out of date. We also find that our town had one of the highest growth rates in the whole of the Province. That does not seem to have been recognised in the summing up of the report. It is important that Magherafelt should be identified as a main hub, and if it does not mean anything, why have other towns been identified as such? We all know that identification as a main hub is important, and this document will be used for the development of the area in years to come.

We have difficulties in this respect because when it comes to our fight to retain acute services in the Mid-Ulster Hospital, it will be shown that we are not identified in this plan as a main hub. I differ with the Member for Mid Ulster, Mr Armstrong, who said that if the hospital services are removed, the roads must be upgraded. I do not believe that we should be saying "if the hospital is downgraded". If we are to have proper acute services and hospitalisation, we must not entertain the thought of our hospital's being downgraded. Our roads need to be upgraded, and we have been pressing for that. It is one of the things that the Minister has been well aware of for years.

We have endeavoured to achieve a continuation of economic growth in the area. Land has been acquired by the Department at Craigs, which is outside Toomebridge in the Magherafelt district area. The fact that Magherafelt is not identified as a main hub area is going to hinder progress with our economic growth. While I appreciate all the other things that the Minister and the Committee have identified, it must be clearly seen that there will be problems as a result of the fact that Magherafelt district and town has not been classified as a main hub area for future development.

It is acknowledged that the figures for housing are higher for Magherafelt than for neighbouring towns, yet for some reason that was not recognised by classification as a main hub. I appeal to the Department, and I still appeal to the Committee, to look further at this matter and make recommendations on it. I trust that this is not so rigid that it cannot be adapted if required. Magherafelt is vital to the economic development of Mid Ulster and to the wider prosperity of our Province.

There is a concern that some areas of the Province, identified for large increases in housing numbers, could be overdeveloped. They could lose their identity. Some of the smaller towns surrounding such areas could find themselves consumed completely. Smaller towns do not want to lose their identity, and it should not happen.

If areas in the Province have been identified as growth areas, it is essential that proper road networks accompany such growth. Many roads are already chock-a-block. Putting large numbers of houses into such areas without road networks would not be in their best interests.

While giving a general welcome to the strategy, I ask the Minister to seriously consider its deficiency with respect to the Magherafelt District Council area.

A LeasCheann Comhairle, I give critical acceptance to the report. I accept the plan's value and recognise the time, energy and commitment of the Minister, his officials and the Regional Development Committee, and its work with the Department.

It is clear that departmental thinking links regional development with the priorities of 'Strategy 2010', the economic development strategy document. However, 'Strategy 2010' has been widely criticised for its top-down approach, its continuation of failed policies, its bias towards the Belfast area at the expense of the western and southern parts of the Six Counties and its presentation of the economy as being almost completely dependent on British policy decisions.

Earlier this year, the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment advanced a report to the House that was accepted by all Assembly parties. One of the key aspects of that report was the fact that infrastructure is a tool of the economy. We must recognise that the infrastructural tool we have now is not adequate to sustain a growing economy.

I draw the attention of the House to three of the many recommendations that were accepted. Recommendation 13 speaks of regional disparities:

Recommendations 24 and 25 mention transport infrastructure. Recommendation 24 states:

Recommendation 25 states:

I ask the Minister, when he sets up his interdepartmental committee, to take on board the agreed recommendations of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee. He should not base his recommendations and way forward on 'Strategy 2010' as it was written originally.

There is a need to take on board what was said by the Committee and accepted by all parties on the Committee. I also note that the Minister's time frame is 25 years. Very few people in the House will be around in 25 years' time. Some of us might be. I therefore urge the Minister to have annual or biannual progress reports in the interim.

I ask the Minister to have an ongoing look at the road from Strabane to Aughnacloy in my constituency of West Tyrone. There is a need for a fundamental and continual upgrading of that thoroughfare.

There is currently a huge debate in counties Tyrone and Fermanagh in relation to the Hayes Report. One of the key points in a rural context is accessibility to hospitals. The responsibility for that matter lies with the Department for Regional Development. It must take the need for accessibility on board in a very clear and focused way.

Transport, for instance, needs to be addressed on an all-Ireland basis. That was specifically provided for under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement's 12 areas of North/South co-operation. It is not being pursued actively enough. There needs to be a huge shift in official culture if informed co-ordination of cross-border planning is to be achieved. Nevertheless, this report deserves study. We must engage with it in a very critical way. I hope that the result will be a better document and a better way forward.

I, as the Committee Chairperson and other Members have done, wish to compliment the Minister on his handling of the consultation process since he inherited the role of Minister for Regional Development. I welcome the fact that we have reached the stage where the Assembly is being asked to agree the regional development strategy. On Monday 2 July, when Members debated a motion on the progress of the report, 17 Members made largely supportive comments on the content of the publication titled 'Shaping Our Future'. I want to follow up some of the observations and comments that I made in that debate.

I expressed at that time a degree of disappointment that farming and farm-related matters had little or no mention in the document. I commented, however, that the promise of rural proofing by all ministerial Departments should ensure that the farming community gets equality of treatment when the strategy is up and running. I want to hear what plans the Minister has to assure those with agricultural interests that the regional development strategy will be thoroughly rural proofed, where appropriate, by his Department.

On the upgrading of our major traffic corridors, I make a special plea to the Minister to use his influence to bring forward the programme for a dual carriageway on the A1 between Loughbrickland and Newry. I do that for a particular reason. As I made my way to the Assembly on Thursday morning last, I had to join other motorists making a detour in the Loughbrickland area due to a traffic accident on the A1. Sadly, that accident proved to be fatal. A 69-year-old female tourist from France lost her life in a head-on collision on that terrible stretch of road. Coincidentally, that was the second time recently that I have had to make the same detour for a similar reason - sadly with a similar outcome.

The route I refer to forms a portion of the eastern seaboard corridor as printed in diagram 12 on page 162 of the final text before us. Anything that the Minister can do to advance the proposals for that stretch of road will be greatly appreciated by the large number of daily commuters who use the A1 Newry to Belfast road.

I address my third comment on the strategy to those currently engaged in drawing up the new area plans. I recently attended public consultation meetings organised by the Planning Service in Rathfriland and Warrenpoint. Those meetings dealt specifically with the new Newry/Banbridge area plan. On matters of rural development, there was widespread agreement among rural participants that the pending area plan would have to develop an attractive and prosperous rural area, based on a balanced and integrated approach to the development of town, village and countryside, to sustain a strong and vibrant rural community.

I make no apology to the wordsmith for copying the words that he or she penned under the heading 'Strategic Rural Development Objectives' on page 93, which refers to the overall aim of the strategy:

I am satisfied that the document's declared aims are compatible with the overall wishes of the rural community. I can only add that planners should take note.

Finally, I share Jane Morrice's concern about the level of attention paid to the comments on 2 July. Does the Minister still view the contributions made then as being helpful and relevant? I hope that his answer will be yes. I support the motion, and I call on the Minister to remember the debate on 2 July when he is implementing his strategy.

I welcome the strategy document. The Minister and his officials will recall the origins of the strategy, when the main area of concern and complaint from some Members was that we felt that what was being offered was the Belfast metropolitan area plan with a bolt-on to keep the country boys happy. All Members would agree that there has been considerable consultation since then, and I must praise the Minister, his predecessor and his departmental officials, who have proved that they can listen to the concerns of people beyond the Belfast area. They have produced a much more balanced regional document as a result.

I regard the strategy as a macro-statement that can only succeed as it evolves at the micro-level of area plans. Today, the Minister has heard many concerns about area plans that have gone past their sell-by date. I urge the Minister to use his considerable influence to ensure that area plans can now take centre stage, as their role is vital in achieving the aims of the overall expectations of this truly co-ordinated strategy.

I am sure that the House will agree that the regional transport strategy will be vital. Within the transport strategy lies the means, not only of drawing the region together within the regional development strategy, but of ensuring the success of that development strategy at a local level, particularly with regard to the provision of services.

I may become slightly parochial at this stage, when I refer to the Health Service, for example, and the concerns that many of us have regarding a local acute hospital in the south-west - most logically sited in the Omagh area. We need a transport system to ensure that those in Fermanagh who are concerned about this can get to the Omagh hospital within the "golden hour". The Minister should understand that concern.

We look at the spatial framework and at people's expectations about the various hubs that are to be established. Education and certain facilities are to be provided within such hubs. Accessibility - as Mr Doherty said - is vital. We need to ensure that the transport strategy put in place in the western area will guarantee people accessibility to the various services available. As much has already been said, I close by urging all Members to support the motion.

I welcome this very useful document. It is good to have strategic plans laid out in front of us. There are several areas in the document that I would like to address. In my constituency, the Department has, by and large, listened to most of what has been requested. Lisburn has been outlined as an area of high development potential, and the local council will have seen that. Lisburn would welcome the development of more housing and facilities.

The buffer wedges that have been put in place between Belfast and Lisburn and between Belfast and the other council areas in the Belfast metropolitan area plan are also welcomed. It is essential that significant communities maintain their independent identities.

I also welcome the document's indication that the Department for Regional Development is seeking more efficient links between areas such as Lisburn and Belfast. I welcome the circle line that is proposed in the regional development strategy. It is envisaged that the circle line will travel from Belfast to Antrim to Lisburn and back to Belfast. The Minister made a good move earlier this year when he maintained that line despite strong pressure on him to mothball it. I implore the Minister to maintain that stance and ensure that the circle line becomes a reality now that the Bleach Green line is in progress.

I am concerned about the significant expansion planned for Moira village. Moira is under severe pressure. Anyone who knows the village or travels through it to go to Lurgan or Portadown knows that they will hit a tailback in the evenings as soon as they come off the motorway. Moira will need a bypass in order to assist significant further development. That may be in the Department's mind, but it needs to be made abundantly clear that any further development could be accommodated only if a bypass were built. I understand where the Department is coming from in wanting to develop a village such as Moira, because it has access to the motorway and the rail system. It is beneficial that it accesses the main corridors.

The application of caring for the environment is necessary, as not enough attention has been paid to the built environment until now. The section of the regional development strategy that deals with conservation could have been strengthened so that dwellings with large gardens could be left intact, rather than have developers opportunistically demolish them and replace them with large numbers of apartments.

I am grateful that the Department identifies the problems of rural areas, particularly in relation to agriculture. However, less stringent criteria should be applied to those people who seek farm dwellings. It might be worthwhile for the Department to look to extend the green belt so that one-off sites could not be approved for individuals who merely wish to sell them on. The Department might also consider reducing the criteria that must be met to allow young people who live in the countryside, who have been brought up on farms and who wish to stay in the area, to get a house for themselves approved.

It is more necessary than ever to reduce the new criteria because more and more young people are having to farm part-time and take other jobs. In those instances, it is necessary for the young people to live on the farm because they work there for such a short time that it needs to be accessible. I ask the Department to re-examine those criteria.

I would like to see a fairly large-scale development of small settlements and hamlets in the countryside, particularly in Greater Belfast. Young people cannot afford to buy houses in the area of Greater Belfast in which they were reared. They cannot afford to buy houses, particularly in Hillsborough and Moira. Demand for development land is so high that house prices are out of their reach. I would like to see more development of small hamlets in those areas to allow young people to stay in the areas in which they were raised.

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I give the document a critical welcome. I welcome the changes that have been taken on board, particularly the upgrading of the north/south corridor - the A29 - which is important to the infrastructure of the North. That was left out of the earlier document. Our community depends on having a coherent and far-reaching development strategy. Unfortunately the 'Shaping our Future' strategy contains some shortcomings. However, with some flexibility in our interpretation, we can, perhaps, overcome some of those.

We must put regional development in the context of the Good Friday Agreement. We want to create opportunities for people. The infrastructure of the area west of the Bann is in need of development. There is an opportunity to bring in new thinking and create regional hubs and key transport corridors. I agree with Rev William McCrea that roads are no replacement for hospitals. We must ensure that we have proper hospital facilities in the regional hubs, so that we do not have to depend on the road system. We need hospitals in the regional hubs. If we identify somewhere as a hub for one type of development, we cannot downgrade its status for another.

We must abandon the approach that was taken in the past. It discriminated against people who lived west of the Bann, whether Catholic or Protestant. The infrastructure was not put in place; there was no development of the east-west corridor and no development of the motorway network. The M2 does not go beyond Antrim on the northern side of Lough Neagh, and, on the southern side, the M1 stops at Dungannon. The infrastructure and everything that goes along with it also stop there.

It is clear that the Department's thinking is still linked with 'Strategy 2010' that is a flaw. That document has been criticised for its top-down approach and lack of local consultation. We must take on board the need for local consultation and build a structure that people can get involved with. Now that we have a devolved Administration, we can ensure that we have local input.

The development of transport must be carried out in line with housing and community development. I agree with Jane Morrice, who said that we had an opportunity to enforce planning regulations and ensure that play areas become part of the local structure. Communities have been deprived of building; motorways are not the only infrastructure. Planners should adopt a "play before build" approach. During the PPP inquiry, we found that there were examples of developers being obliged to create play areas before they began to build massive housing estates. That protects the right of children to play.

We can interpret the strategy in our own way. We can put together a structure that will allow for planned development, as opposed to jumping from one area plan to another. I hope that all the area plans will be implemented, but I am concerned that a number of those plans will be out of date by the time that they are put in place. The plan for my area covers the period up to 2010 and is not yet complete. It will be 2005 before it has been completed and the relevant inquiries held, so we will end up with a five-year plan. I encourage the Minister and the planning authorities to create a structure that will enable us to make more long-term plans for the environment and allow us to take account of local communities, the need for infrastructure and the importance of linking services.

Another important aspect is the link between rail and road services. Unfortunately, we have not taken on board the European concept of linking such services. In the few towns here that have railway stations, they are often located at one end of the town, while the bus station is at the other end. For example, a new bus station has been built in the centre of Newry, but there is just a rail stop in the town, instead of a proper station. The rail structure needs to be developed alongside the M1 to expand the network of linked services.

I recognise the energy and effort that the Minister has put into seeking an agreed strategy. The widespread consultation that has taken place has undoubtedly been helpful. For example, road safety is to receive more attention. There is now an attempt to tackle the increasing numbers of fatal and serious road accidents, and measures such as traffic calming have been mentioned.

As elected representatives, many of us know that it is sometimes difficult to get a response from the Department for Regional Development on issues such as the introduction of speed limits, street lighting and improved signage. The strategy is a hopeful sign, and I hope that the Department will re-examine the criteria relating to these measures and remove any inconsistencies.

The urban/rural balance needs to be attended to. There has been poor funding of roads in Fermanagh. There has been an imbalance in the allocation of funding, and that has been to the detriment of the west of the North of Ireland, especially Fermanagh. I hope that that will be improved, but the key transport corridors identified in diagram 10 of the strategy document suggest that the imbalance might well continue. In other parts of Northern Ireland the routes run east to west, north to south and diagonally, but there is only one key priority route in Fermanagh, and it runs from east to west. Many who live in and operate businesses in that area - regardless of their political allegiance - recognise the importance of North/South links. I want that issue to be looked at as the strategy progresses.

The draft strategy has emerged after the publication of the Hayes Report on future acute hospital provision, in which the matter of accessibility crops up repeatedly. I will not be as presumptuous or as partisan as the Member for West Tyrone, Mr Hussey, to say that one town would be better than another for the purposes of implementing the Hayes review. Everyone would agree that the Hayes review showed that future hospital provision must be based on certain and agreed principles that are in the best interests of everybody, whether they live in Omagh, Enniskillen, Antrim or County Down. The Enniskillen to Omagh road will be a key corridor in future hospital provision in the west of the Province. That road will have to be kept under review, and I hope that, before very long, it will be identified for funding.

There have been strong statements on rural development and the importance of maintaining and promoting the rural community. It almost goes without saying that employment is central to rural development. A review of the Water Service is currently under way. Rationalising the service and reducing jobs have been mentioned. Over recent years, people from the west who have been involved with the service have seen jobs being moved elsewhere. I bring that to the Minister's attention. I look forward to his response and to whether he will give a commitment that the review will not lead to further centralisation of the Water Service. People in the west of the Province generally want decentralisation in the range of services.

I welcome the bulk of the report and the degree of consultation that went into producing it. However, I have some reservations.

I particularly welcome increasing the target for brownfield development to 60%. However, achieving that will require subsequent moves and perhaps subsequent changes in legislation. Making it a reality is not just a matter of setting a target. Practical aspects have to be established for the target to be achieved. How will developers be encouraged into town-centre regeneration, rather than perpetuating the doughnut effect that is occurring in many rural towns in Northern Ireland?

I welcome the report's commitment to the continuing development of Larne as a gateway into Northern Ireland. Larne is one of the most important gateways, and the plans to continue the development of the potential of the Port of Larne, which is one of the largest roll-on/roll-off ferry facilities in the British Isles, are also to be welcomed.

The trans-European network route between Larne and Dún Laoghaire has also been recognised and must be developed. However I must flag up some aspects of that route, particularly the urgent need to upgrade accident black spots on the A8, between Larne and Belfast, at the Millbrook and Ballyloran junctions, where there have been several fatalities.

I welcome the report's recognition of Carrickfergus as a heritage town. However, the town's importance as an industrial centre and a service centre must also be recognised. There must be a more efficient linkage between Belfast and the neighbouring towns in the metropolitan area. Carrickfergus is the only one of those towns that does not have a four-lane carriageway linking it to the centre of Belfast. Indeed, investment on the A2 has been overlooked when its traffic usage is compared with other routes in Northern Ireland that have received funding for four-lane carriageways.

I welcome the concept of strengthening the regional rail system, under the heading of 'Developing a Regional Transportation System', contained in the report. While Carrickfergus is included in the Belfast metropolitan area for an increased rail service, I am concerned that Larne, which is a major gateway to Northern Ireland, is not mentioned in the report's opening comments on the subject on page 159. Indeed, it is only later in the report - when discussing linkages - that Larne is mentioned.

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