Mr. Paul Hogan:

We have given a commitment to the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, in the first instance, in terms of giving him a draft of the document. The issue with this is that we are subject to environmental assessment in that any document we prepare has to go through that process, and there is a consultation that goes with that. If a full strategic environmental assessment is required, that is a slightly longer process, and to a certain extent we have to be advised and to take that advice on board. We would also seek to engage in consultation, which again adds some time to the process. It is important, however, given the widespread interest in and sensitivity of this issue. Clearly, this issue is of great interest to many people in every local authority in the country.

The Gaeltacht matters can be dealt with probably more readily because it is a more confined area and is very well regulated in respect of the planning Acts, with very clear policies as to what should happen. We have identified that what happens in the in-between, as it were, in the eight local authorities to which this refers needs a degree of co-ordination. With agreement around language testing and other matters, we are advanced in this, having had discussions with colleagues in other Departments and in the údarás, as well as having initiated a steering group with the eight relevant local authorities. We believe the Gaeltacht matters can be addressed more readily and without perhaps the significant requirements for environmental assessment that might apply more broadly. I do not want to diminish the Gaeltacht as a subset but it is very much a more discrete element of the overall consideration of housing. Given the progress and co-operation we have had, because there is a lot of very targeted interest from Gaeltacht areas, we believe this can be resolved more quickly.