Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will take account of population but we will not go mad in terms of numbers. We will reflect the fact that population concerns raised on Second Stage might be reflected in the membership of the local authorities.

Even though there are a lot of amendments and I suppose what we are doing is updating the language and the changes to reflect the fact there are regional economic spatial strategies. The economic dimension is much stronger in these amendments. Ultimately, it is a devolved function to the municipal level in terms of the local area plan. We cannot have it every way. The councillors have to take responsibility and, notwithstanding what Deputy Murphy said, they must be consistent with the regional and national spatial strategies and their own development plan which, ultimately, will be adjudicated on by An Bord Pleanála.

The elected members will have to be responsible and be guided in the advice they get, but equally I would like to see councillors getting independent advice from time to time on matters like planning and legal issues. They do not always have to rely on officials. Officials might have a view which might not exactly conform with what councillors might want and they might have good reason for it as well. It works both ways but, ultimately, there is a responsibility on the elected members to make the decisions at the lowest possible level and the nearest place to the citizen where it impacts. That is a summary of the concerns Deputy Murphy expressed and of the amendments we are seeking to oppose. We are trying to focus on a stronger economic dimension to the planning Acts.

On the community side, there will be a national community policy and a local authority community plan but there will have to be some consistency across the board. Not one size fits all but nevertheless there will be certain principles at national level which we would expect from a funding flow point of view and we would have national objectives we want to achieve. That will permeate down to the regional level.