Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

I will share my time with Senator Mansergh. I welcome the Minister to the House and wish him well in his new portfolio. I have no doubt he has addressed many of the problems within the planning system. Solutions lie in many areas and the Minister is first to identify them.

Local authorities experience many problems in the planning process in respect of staffing levels and applications. The large number of applications is a sign that much development is taking place nationally. Councils are at full stretch to process the applications. A suggestion has been made from both sides of the House that pre-planning discussions should take place. Hopefully the Minister will address the issue of national staffing levels.

In his address, the Minister mentioned national infrastructure. We have seen many changes take place with regard to waste management plans, which have been adopted by local and regional authorities and brought forward to the Minister by county managers. Much has been said about An Bord Pleanála and An Taisce and their roles in the planning process. There is also concern as to how industries will implement their waste management programmes. It is important that elected members of local authorities and the Oireachtas have a say in where they are established. It is fine to welcome development of national infrastructure, but it is important that people have a say, through their elected representatives, in how decisions are made. We have adopted county development plans but it should not be the right of the county manager to be the first person to break the plan. I refer to the issue of waste management which is important. People will be watching this issue carefully in the years ahead. Perhaps the Minister could elaborate more on that issue.