Given all the charges imposed, it is projected that approximately 39% of the cost of a house outside the Dublin area, goes back to the Government by way of various charges; the projected percentage is 44% of the capital. It is fine to say an unparalleled number of houses are being built as this is possible as a result of the boom in the economy, but for the person building for the first time there are many disincentives and barriers. I recognise local authorities have been screaming for more powers and to a certain extent a devolution of powers is beginning to evolve. That is important. On the issue of the development charges which should be kept on a small scale, whereas I would be critical of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for not achieving in the past and failing to provide sufficient funding to local authorities, these are now the responsibility of local authorities and they will have an input. In my local authority I would like to see many sewerage schemes being put in place in communities which were not considered in the past. This is an indictment of the level of spending in those areas in the past.