Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The Local Government Computer Services Board has developed a wide range of planning-related programmes for authorities. E-planning has great potential for planning authorities and that potential must be unlocked. I cannot understand the reason no planning authority allows the submission of planning applications on line.

Let us look at what the Revenue Commissioners have done. They have made a significant saving for the taxpayer and have encouraged corporate Ireland and individuals to consider interacting with them on-line. One can pay one's taxes on-line. This is one of the most sensitive issues that any private individual or corporate body deals with, yet one cannot do likewise in the planning area. We are back in the days of snail mail in planning when the rest of the country is moving on. I have a degree of impatience in this regard. I hope to be in a position shortly to take steps that will drive forward the achievement of a full e-planning service in all local authorities because it will be a better service. That is not to say one can only go that route because there will always be people who do not want to do so. It will supplement the existing position where people have to queue at counters and put up with the current frustration and annoyance.

The planning system can and must be improved if Ireland is to develop. My Department and I have much to do to support local authorities and the planning board in delivering my twin goals of a strategic planning system at national level and an accessible system responding to customer needs at local level. I am confident that with a good legislative base and a good policy framework in place, the guidelines and indicators which are coming on-stream will make a real improvement. Senators have a significant amount of experience in this area. I have never taken the view that wisdom and experience reside only in Government and in Departments. We are here to do our best to make the system better for the people of Ireland. If there are any suggestions or observations or areas where there are blackspots I would like to hear about them and I will certainly take on board anything Senators have to say on the matter.