Mr. John McCarthy:

Going back to the conversations we had earlier with Deputy Cullinane on the approval process, two things have contributed to the most significant delays in the approval process. The first is cost issues, namely, making sure we are getting value for money, and the other is sustainable communities. While we need to make sure the process works more efficiently, we are trying to avoid the type of situation the Deputy is talking about, which is a function of decisions that were made 20 years ago. We do not want to end up building large swathes of monotenure housing in one location.

On the community facilities issue, there has not been funding available to the Department over the past number of years in that space for a capital scheme but small funding is now provided. I can get the Deputy a note on new community facilities funds if he wants. The terms of the scheme are just being worked out but we can get the Deputy a note on the way it will operate and the type of projects it will be designed to cover.