Ms Charlotte Sheridan:

We have to look at the point in time where we are. A series of development plans have just been adopted. What we are looking at here is something that would happen after the current round of plans. We would hope we would have the right plans in place to ensure that where there is a need for a statement or policy direction, it has been informed by a well -prepared plan. When it comes to preparing those development plans and these city and town plans, it is essential we have the right skill sets within the organisations preparing them. We talk about the under-resourcing within the local authorities in respect of planners, but we also point to that need to have that multidisciplinary approach to preparing the plans. It goes back to Senator Boylan's point about the need for architects and planners at a senior level to get that strategic view. The Irish Cities 2070 project is looking at the overall city and getting an overall strategic view of how that city might progress to 2070. Within that, places can be identified for prioritisation in the various layers of local area plans. Within that context, we can get a very clear point as to which one to bring forward first. That can facilitate timely development. Also, when the statements come through, they can respond to that, the idea being that they are extremely robust and they are relying on that ten-year plan that is giving a very good strategic purpose.