Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Leyden's call for a general debate on planning, particularly in regard to An Taisce. Another body that needs to be considered in this context is Dúchas. I accept that the previous Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government made great efforts in terms of dismantling the structure of Dúchas but some issues remain outstanding, especially in regard to the development of infrastructural projects throughout the country.

Dúchas ecologists and some engineers tend to take a retrograde view of the development of infrastructural projects. Most projects involve a long drawn out consultation between Dúchas and local authorities with the result that water and sewerage projects do not go ahead as quickly as they might. This impacts on the issue raised by Senator White, our competitiveness. Without the required level of infrastructure to develop rural areas in particular there is no chance we will be able to develop along the lines discussed. I would appreciate a debate on planning matters at the earliest possible opportunity.