Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree wholeheartedly. I attended the launch of the National University of Ireland, NUI, Maynooth, research into the role of elected members at local level. Certainly, we should all take cognisance of it. It is an important report. In some cases it may seem there has been a diminution of a councillor's role. In other cases, there has actually been an enhancement of the role in recent years, especially in relation to many areas such as climate change and mobility.

It is a hugely important role and one the Government strongly values.

There is an opportunity for councillors to get involved, within the ten-year cycle, if the review begins before the end of year eight. If, like the Deputy said, a councillor is elected after an interim review, he or she or will still have a role in the review and the preparation of a new plan. Councillors who are elected in an interim period between plans will still have a role. There is always an overlap whereby councillors have a role in either a review phase or in the statutory development plan phase itself. That role is still there. I was conscious of these considerations when the move was made to ten-year plans. I think we can all agree that the rationale behind it is to allow for strategic planning at county level for the longer term.