Alex White (Labour)

Will those issue papers be published? The Planning and Development Act 2000 refers to the notice given to the Minister, to other authorities, to adjoining planning authorities, to the board and other people and stipulates that it shall be published in one or more newspapers circulated in the area. Should these issue papers be given wider circulation than simply making them available or uploading them to websites? I do not denigrate the idea of using a website. People are becoming used to monitoring what is happening in an area through websites. The South Dublin County Council website is particularly good but I am sure others are very good. I do not denigrate the approach but it is not enough for many people. It is not noticed in the newspaper. A bald notice in a newspaper to the effect that the authority is going to prepare a development plan is not enough when people have so much else on their minds and complexity in their lives.

I will not press this amendment on Committee Stage and I will consider what the Minister of State says before possibly reintroducing it, or some version of it, on Report Stage. Another point supports my proposal. If we completely eliminate this approach, there will not be proposals for rezoning at this stage. I accept that this should be the case. Perhaps developers have been publicising a proposal and it may be discussed widely in an area. Where there is a live proposal or a publicised intention to make an application for rezoning, one excludes any commentary by concerned citizens about this. My worry is that this goes too far. It is almost censoring any reference to the prospect of a rezoning application, concerns in respect of it or opposition to it. That is excessive. I agree with the basic thrust of the Minister of State's suggestion but to exclude anything about rezoning is excessive and may work against local residents and citizens. My concern is that it will force discussions about zoning and informal discussions into a less transparent area. There may be discussions and meetings taking place off-line rather than on-line. That is my worry.