The Government has announced that it has agreed to the preparation of a successor to the current National Development Plan which runs to the end of 2006.
The new plan will cover the seven year period from 2007 until 2013.
Its preparation will be co-ordinated by the Department of Finance.
Announcing the decision, the Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, said the current National Development Plan was delivering an unprecedented enhancement to our economic and social infrastructure.
Mr O'Dea also indicated that the Government would draft a separate and parallel programme to promote social inclusion and tackle poverty.
