Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 678: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to local authorities to enable them to provide additional resources to their planning offices to meet with the increased demands being placed on them by the public and public representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6927/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In 2006, I allocated general purpose grants to local authorities amounting to approximately €875 million; this represents an increase of 6.5% over the corresponding figure for 2005, more than twice the rate of inflation.

The Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, set out provisions for the payment of fees for planning applications. Local authorities generated in excess of €57 million in planning fees in 2004, the latest year for which statistics are available. Planning authorities are also entitled to require persons served with enforcement notices to pay their costs, and retain any fines paid on foot of a court conviction. Such income can also be used to fund development management and administration. In the circumstances, it is not proposed to provide specific additional funding to local authorities from central government in respect of services provided by planning offices.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 679: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to make a decision regarding an application by South Dublin County Council to have lands at Balgaddy in Clondalkin designated as a strategic development zone. [7089/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under Part IX of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Government may, by order, on foot of a proposal from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, designate a site or sites as a strategic development zone, SDZ, to facilitate development considered, in the Government's opinion, to be of economic or social importance to the State. The proposed strategic development zone at Balgaddy Clonburris, South Dublin is under examination in my Department in consultation with South Dublin County Council and a proposal will be submitted to the Government in the matter when that examination has been completed.