Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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When we bring this down to the nub of the issue, while agriculture is partly involved in this sector, it is down to planning to resolve the issue. That is where the problem is. I noted Mr. Boland's recommendations that there be a pilot scheme and a team of planners in each council that should be available when looked for. I do not think that is going to happen. They cannot get enough planners to do a housing application at the moment right around the country. The second thing he talks about is a Bord na Móna site subject to planning permission. None of them has it in Bord na Móna at the moment. This will delay the rehabilitation of a site where there is suitably qualified peat. The third one is the Rochfortbridge site I am familiar with where Cement Roadstone Holdings, CRH, dig out sand underneath. The peat is all bulldozed and thrown off first. On a drag line, it is coming into Dublin and other places, I presume, and you get sand up out of it. It is plastered in sand or whatever is in it. The intention is that those two places would be used.

My understanding from the last time GMI was in that there was something like 1,400 ha or 1,500 ha required right around the country to service the industry, which those two recommendations will not cover.

When you read the report, and I cannot find the exact piece now, it talks about the sub-30 ha and this is what I want to find out from the Minister of State. Mr. Boland seems to be saying the only game in town in terms of trying to resolve it is that there are two consent systems to be gone through. He then talks about a case in the High Court. He names the individuals on the document. I will not name them, as it might have repercussions. What is in the report is that we are back to looking at a Bord na Móna site in Rochfortbridge. We are back to looking at another Bord na Móna site that we would not rehabilitate. We are looking at a team of planners that would be put in place to help the applicants.

We are looking at a team of planners that will be put in place to help the applicants. There is still some doubt about the sub-30 ha. Is there anything new in that report, other than what I have said?