Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

In some way this debate is a bit unreal, in so far as it is currently the case that county development plans and variations to them are agreed by the Minister. What is involved is that the opinion of the regional authorities is to be taken into consideration in terms of whether those regional planning guidelines are in place. It must be remembered there are regional planning guidelines in place since 2004. They are in place in local authorities. This is not an attempt to take away any opportunity for local authority members. We have a national spatial strategy, regional planning guidelines, county development plans and local area plans. The legislation provides that the local authority, in drawing up or varying its county development plan, adhere to the regional planning guidelines. That is important in the areas the two Senators come from in that there would be a co-ordinated approach for Waterford, Waterford city or anywhere else where there are two authorities dealing with the one area. This is a streamlining measure and it will be beneficial to the planning sections of our local authorities.

Progress reported; Committee to sit again.