Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has completed his study on the economic impact of eliminating the cap on the size of retail premises; and if he has taken any decision on this matter. [21072/11]

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 was completed and submitted to the two Departments in early Summer. Following detailed consideration of the analysis and findings, my Department wrote to the European Commission Services in July, outlining its policy views and proposed response to the Forfas Economic Study. My Department is continuing to liaise with the Commission Services with a view to agreeing a detailed time-bound action plan on the matter, and further engagement is expected over the coming weeks.

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, in the coming weeks, of a consultation draft of revised Retail Planning Guidelines which is currently under preparation in my Department.