Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

A national strategy is required for the country. We have a national spatial strategy. It is appropriate to put in place regional planning guidelines. We should remember that they are only guidelines. The Bill does not change in any way the powers of local authorities.

The central point is to achieve consistency between national and regional guidelines and what is adopted in the plan. It is a straightforward and streamlined approach to what is necessary in planning. It is important to remember that the members of regional authorities are members of local authorities. The guidelines that are agreed at regional level are put forward by local authority members and the manager and his or her executive. The local authority then decides on its development plan. This Bill does not take away the entitlement or the right of a local authority to bring in its country development plan.