Mr. Kevin Kelly:

It is difficult to say, there are a number of issues. Resourcing is an issue for local authorities generally. What we can see in terms of the NOAC indicators on resourcing, taking the costper capitaof planning services, it is largely a staff cost. There will be some legal and other costs associated, but largely it is a staff cost. The average cost varies between €30 and €45 per capita. It varies across local authorities. In the context of this discussion on this particular Bill, the impact will be on some local authorities more than others. For example, Mayo County Council is currently considering its first strategic housing development whereas the Dublin authorities may have to consider 30, 40 or 50 in one year. The CCMA does not have a definitive figure on the resource requirement but there is general consensus, as has been heard from the various testimonies, that there is a resource deficit in respect of the planning function in local authorities generally, on which we would be happy to work with the Department to resolve because we all want a better planning system.