Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise one matter I omitted to mention earlier and I hope the Minister of State will take account of it. It concerns the resourcing of regional authorities with their new obligations under this Bill. I spoke earlier about the professional resources, directorates and staff of regional authorities. As a result of the significant authority they will now be given, what measures will the Minister and the Department take to ensure members of regional authorities are appropriately resourced and trained to implement these statutory regional planning guidelines? Up to now they have just been rubber-stamping them after they are presented by the seconded planner, although they may amend them to some degree. The bar has been raised with regard to the importance of regional authorities. Local authorities inform councillors, as well as preparing and training them in the implementation process. Are there plans now, however, to use similar measures and resources to assist members of regional authorities? Do those members even know about the new obligations that are being placed on them by this Bill? Do the directorships and executives of regional authorities know about the new obligations? Will there be consultation at those levels prior to the enactment of the Bill? Have the Minister and the Department taken soundings from regional authorities to ascertain their views on the new powers? I would be interested to know whether there has been such consultation with the staff and members of regional authorities concerning the new measures envisaged in the Bill. That is an important question.