Economist Dr Peter Bacon today said decentralisation is essential if the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) plan is to work.
Speaking at a conference, "Social Sustainability and Spatial Planning Wexford", organised by the Wexford Area Partnership today, Mr Bacon said: "Economic policy delivery is probably more centralised here than in the Soviet Union."
He argued that for the NSS to work, the Government must change the direction of the country’s infrastructure from Dublin to the regional areas.
Mr Bacon welcomed the NSS plan’s recognition of "sustainability" as an issue but said it only did so in terms of environmental issues.
"We need to ensure a platform of public policy delivery," he said.
He said it was necessary to examine the concept of "potentials" in regional areas to create a level playing field where all public, social and recreational services were equally distributed.
This way, he said, areas would be equally attractive places to live as people would have access to "consumption opportunities" or State services and social amenities.
Mr Bacon said the NSS should be delivered through local or regional authorities not from the centre and that its framework should empower public participation.
He suggested it should affect people’s pockets, arguing if the public paid local authorities it would generate an interest in local authority decisions and policies.
Also addressing the conference, Prof Fred Powell from UCC criticised the NSS, saying it did not adequately address social inclusion and social development.
While Ms Barbara Walshe, from the Community Workers Co-op questioned the quality of life issues within the NSS. She said the plan should take lessons from the Area Based Partnership Companies.
The conference also facilitated workshops where local representatives, including the unions, health boards, business and VEC, could discuss their concerns about the NSS and its impact on their interests.
The outcomes of these talks will form the basis of Wexford’s submission to the NSS as part of the public consultative process.