Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with colleagues and with what Senator Fitzpatrick said. It is important that there be accountability and transparency but there is also a need for education among the wider public so that people can understand what the agency is doing, its purposes and its objectives. The mapping will be interesting. As citizens, we should be able to access maps and know what purposes are assigned to land. It is all very well to publish this information on as many sites and in as many newspapers as possible and to publish it inIris Oifigiúil, but the reality is that Iris Oifigiúil is only read by civil servants, academics, cranks and nerds. There is a certain degree of overlap between some of those groups. The crucial issue is ensuring that there is a broader understanding of what the LDA is trying to do and of how to use land effectively. Our councillors and citizens more generally should have a means by which to have input or to ask questions. The design of the website will be important. Many people cannot decipher planning notices, for instance. We need things to be in plain English so that they are accessible and can be used.

I also agree with Senator Buttimer about the greater use of SPCs, which is related to this. Information on these committees at local authority level should be provided. Some are very innovative. I appreciate that the Cathaoirleach thinks I am straying-----