Ms Maria Graham:

The Deputy's question probably speaks to our point about learning and development and the need for a consistent approach around some of those changes. Certainly that is something we are looking at with the Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR. We issue regular circulars and communication to local authorities when there are changes in legislation. I agree with the Deputy that sometimes one looks at these things in isolation rather than as part of the bigger picture.

Returning to the idea of being very clear about what the intent of legislation is and the purpose of things can be useful to ground any changes, which is why we will consider a deeper process of learning and development to be made available to local authorities in a more structured way so that it is not all on the individuals and individual local authorities to do that. We are exploring that piece at the moment because, particularly around case law and European case law, it is a changing picture. I mean cases come up and new aspects and clarifications come.

I think the organisational review of An Bord Pleanála mentioned that concepts change over time. I mean what we call sustainable development now may not be what we termed sustainable development ten years go.