Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

To clarify the issue for the Minister of State, the core strategy process which he is inserting into plans involves dictation from top to bottom in regard to what can happen in local areas. His Department is seeking to take unto itself the power to approve all local area development plans, regional authority guidelines and national policy. The Department does not issue many circulars on job creation or rural enterprise but we hear a lot about settlement targets. The Minister of State now intends to prescribe how many people will live in our towns of village.

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