Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do appreciate it. I do not say that lightly. It was quite a comprehensive reply. I do not particularly want to press this amendment because there are difficulties in drafting detailed amendments on this issue and in respect of the impact on other legislation. However, there is an enormous difference, for example, between Fingal, which has 98,000 residents to one representative, and Longford, which has 21,000 residents to one representative. In the South Dublin County Council area the ratio is 92,000:1 compared to Offaly where it is 39,000:1. There is a really significant democratic deficit in this respect.

There is also a really significant concentration in respect of planning and the development of these regional metropolitan area strategic plans, of which there are three. I believe these are a key part of the overall strategy. I will move the amendment on Report Stage. I will not press it this evening.

I ask the Minister of State to engage with me between now and Report Stage on bringing forward something that would allow for rebalancing in respect of the three new metropolitan area strategic plans. Speaking as a Dubliner, a proud Dub, it is very difficult to tell councillors that they have a minority input and say in respect of a major economic strategic plan for their areas, which then has to be transposed into their development plans. One can be anxious when one is in a minority. Councillors from those three areas have unique understandings. The Minister of State has talked about professional planners, but the councillors themselves know the issues on the ground. They know what is needed in terms of density. When people speak about strategic economic zones within Dublin, the four local authorities know exactly where they are. They know what the densities are. They know the level of strategic planning which needs to be done to enhance them as engines for the economy.As I stated, 47% of the population will have 60% of the representation. The majority of those who will vote on what will go into a development plan for these areas have no direct connection with them. We do not have to look back too far to see the implications of this approach. We had, for example, coalitions of councillors on Dublin's northside from the large parties voted for unpopular decisions on the southside and vice versa. We also saw what happened in Fingal.

The amendment provides a mechanism for the strategic zones. We must ensure that those who make decisions are answerable to their electorates. Currently, elected representatives in one area, for example, Longford, who make decisions regarding development in other areas, for example, Cork or Dublin, are not answerable to electors in the affected areas. They often do not understand the intricacies of the zones. I will withdraw the amendment if the Minister of State undertakes to engage with me on this issue before Report Stage. We need a timetable to rectify the democratic deficit in this area.