Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Hogan for that. This is very encouraging. The additional resources which have gone into An Bord Pleanála are very welcome. It is also recognised that we are dealing with a mess and a bit of a basket case there, for want of a better word. It is very important that there is an understanding and commitment, in parallel with this legislation and the making of these legislative changes, that the Department is driving on with the local authorities and with An Bord Pleanála so that we do not have a stop-start situation where the capacity planning and, more important, the capacity increases are actually being introduced after the legislation has been passed. We need to ensure that as this legislation progresses - it is more than 18 months in already which we all acknowledge and we do not know how much longer this will take - all of the work is taking place in parallel, because that is very important. I believe I am out of time, Chair, but perhaps I might come back in in the second round, if there is time.