Ms Caroline Timmons:

On the comments about inflation, as I said earlier, I will take a look at that and see what can be done, but obviously we have allowed provisions whereby the Minister can revisit that.

It is important that the Minister can review it and, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, can increase those rates or decrease them as the situation merits. We all hope that things will change in that regard into the future.

In relation to the extension to other counties, as members will have seen in the general scheme and as will be provided for in the Bill, the Minister may by Government order designate relevant local authorities to discharge or to come into the scheme. We have already extended it to Clare and Limerick but if evidence can be provided in respect of other counties, the Minister will be more than happy to bring them into the scheme. It is a question of the science. The procedure will follow. That is the best we can say on that.

In relation to the query on quarries, I will hand over to my colleague, Mr. Wickham.