Mr. Conor O'Connell:

Regarding the SME sector, it is all about decision-making timeframes. For the solutions at the moment, a lot of the policy matters have largely been agreed and, in the main, have been or are about to be implemented. What we need now are quicker decision-making timeframes for matters in relation to connection agreements, EPA licensing and certification and simply for the provision of infrastructure to get the lands to deliver the housing we urgently require. There are even issues whereby a developer has to go to the local authority to get approval for the naming of an estate before the ESB can proceed with a connection agreement. In some local authority areas, this can take a lot longer than it should. Quicker decision-making timeframes right across the spectrum of housing delivery are needed. The Deputy is correct when he says that we have to focus on the solutions and the solutions are in those regulatory matters as well.