Mr. Paul Hogan:

We are subject to an Aarhus Convention compliance committee complaint on that very matter, so we do not really want to get into detail on it, but suffice it to say, the system has evolved over time. It has moved from being a paper-based system. People are notified in advance through newspaper and site notices and the file is available in the local authority office from the date on which it is validated, and that is where the system has come from. The electronic format has evolved since the Aarhus Convention was arrived at, although even it was not definitive because that was 1998 and ways of working were still changing at that stage. E-planning and the fee structure associated with it are an opportunity to encourage adherence to e-planning and ensure documents will be instantly presented in a legible format. By the end of June, 24 local authorities will be up and running with e-planning, so it is being rolled out.