The Government has agreed a National Spatial Strategy, which will act as the planning framework for development over the next 20 years.
The Cabinet signed off on the strategy, which will develop five major new centres outside Dublin, at a special all-day Cabinet meeting on Saturday.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, presented the plan, which will identify potential development patterns for different areas.
The strategy will guide future infrastructural, industrial, residential and rural development. It will also protect Ireland's cultural, natural and environmental heritage and promote social inclusion and enhance the quality of life.
The Minister will launch the plan in the next month. A commitment to a spatial strategy was given as part of the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
A consultation paper seeking submissions from the public on issues the National Spatial Strategy should address was circulated in February, 2000.
There have been consultations on the strategy with regional and local authorities, the social partners, sustainable development interests and the public.
The strategy will also take account of the European Spatial Development Perspective, which was agreed in 1999 by EU Ministers. The Cabinet also agreed on Saturday to meet the Irish Congress of Trade Unions this week to discuss the successor to the current national agreement, the PPF.
A Government spokeswoman said yesterday that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste will meet with Congress "to discuss the lie of the land". She said the Government would outline the financial position facing the country.