Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The sourcing and funding of regional authorities is agreed between local authorities, managers and directors. I am confident that level of funding will continue and that will continue to be the funding process. As regards the planning areas and what the Senator says will be new responsibilities, I am of the view that the planning sections of our local authorities have a reduced work load on the basis of the number of planning applications they are dealing with, compared to what they have been dealing with in recent years. If anything, I would think that any extra work would be welcome in those planning sections at this time.