Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In addition, I refer to the importance of full and proper public consultation throughout many of these processes. It was my experience when I was a councillor, and probably that of many of the other committee members and the Minister of State, that the more meetings there are with people to discuss the potential, the possibilities and the likelihood in the context of all the things that input into land zoning and potential objectives in that regard and the more people can be included in that process at any early stage the better the outcome will be. It is preferable to involve people early in the process rather than at the stage where they just see a planning application going in. This is an incredibly important part of the work done by planners at local authority level. Many of them would love to have a much broader and wider ability to have public consultations, because they are aware of this aspect as well. It is key to a successful outcome and to addressing any conflicts which may occur along the route. I refer to it being possible to address such conflicts at the first stage of a planning process. I note from the discussion last night on the LRD Bill that the Minister is open to and looking at how we can increase the public participation aspect of the LRD Bill. I thank the Minister of State.