Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The councils will decide on the figures. They will not take figures willy-nilly from anywhere, including the CSO. It is a matter for the councils whether they have a local area plan. There is no attempt in the legislation to impose area plans on them. This is an opportunity for councils to bring in area plans but there is no legal requirement obliging them to do so.