Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Can the Minister of State confirm that his agencies take the view that the Minister's policy in this area is damaging to our cost base and prevents the development of opportunities? Does he accept that the NCC report indicates that we are not only the most expensive of the benchmarked countries but are also twice as expensive as Scotland, a country with comparable population? Is he aware that the NCC and Forfás have been withering about the hamfisted way in which this sector is being regulated, with local authorities acting as both regulator and provider? Can he indicate when a coherent policy based on enterprise needs will emerge and whether responsibility will, if necessary, be wrestled away from the Minister, Deputy Gormley, in order to develop this much needed coherence?

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