Mr. Niall Cussen:

I have already covered this to some extent. Like Ms Buckley, I absolutely understand this is a policy matter for the Minister, the Department and the Government. It is important to understand. I believe the Senator may be getting slightly confused about the importance of fees in respect of public participation in the planning process being set at such a level as to support such participation and the broader question of the fees applicants pay to local authorities for undertaking the extensive analysis and work that is required to go through all planning application documentation properly. While respecting that it is a policy matter and understanding the wider challenges in local government funding, do we consider it reasonable for planning services to have to compete with libraries, street lighting or other essential public functions when they essentially benefit the individuals who make planning applications for developments from which they can derive very significant benefits? Whatever about the forward planning process and there possibly being a very important role for the public purse or the State in funding that as a general service of common interest, when dealing with a development management process that benefits a very small cohort of individuals, very often the development community, there is a good reason for fees to cover the day-to-day costs of the service.