John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the report into retail planning guidelines as required under the EU-IMF deal has been completed; if it has, when it will be published; if it recommends increasing the cap on the size of retail area allowable; if it has not been completed, when is it due for completion and publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20029/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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In response to the requirement in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland for an economic analysis of the potential impact on competition and consumer prices of eliminating or relaxing the floorspace cap on retail premises, my Department and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation commissioned Forfás to undertake an evidence-based and focused study to analyse the potential economic impacts of eliminating the cap on the size of retail premises.

The Forfás report has been completed and submitted to the commissioning Departments. Following detailed consideration of the analysis and findings, my Department will shortly be communicating further with the European Commission Services to discuss the matter. As the Forfás study is the subject of ongoing deliberation and consultation with the Commission Services, it would not be appropriate to detail its contents at this point. However, I intend to publish the report simultaneously with the publication of a consultation draft of revised Retail Planning Guidelines which is currently under preparation in my Department and is expected to be published in the Autumn.