Mr. Philip Moyles:

I thank the Deputy for the question. That is our expectation. We would like to see no-fry zones implemented throughout the country, either as a result of all county councils being directed to implement them or as a result of all county councils taking it upon themselves to put it into the county development plan. We went through quite an exhaustive process working with the councillors over an 18 month period, very much providing all of the information and evidence for them to say this was a good step forward and then getting the support of all the healthcare experts, as I mentioned earlier. That is what made the councillors see this was the right step forward.

In Wicklow we started off with about six or seven councillors who supported this idea. At the end of the 18 month process, we had an overwhelming majority of 25, which is great. We have tried to engage with some other councils, but it is very much about trying to find councillors within councils who are interested in health and sharing what we have done. It is a slow process and it is quite tedious. Not every council updates its council development plan. There are a couple in every year.

In some respects, we have done the groundwork in Wicklow. We are the very first county. The first time anything is done, it sets a precedent. We went through a rigorous process in Wicklow. We spent three months looking at the wording of our objective with ex-planners. It would be much easier to show councils what we have in Wicklow and to replicate it in every other county.