asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that all development is being held up in a large area of County Dublin awaiting the publication of the Myles Wright report; and if he will take steps to expedite the issue of this report.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Development Work.
68.
I am not aware of any hold-up of development. There is no reason why any development should be deferred pending the final report of the Dublin regional planning consultant, unless there is a serious question relating to the future planning and development of Dublin at stake.
The consultant's preliminary report was received and issued in April, 1965, and was subsequently published by the Stationery Office. The final report and advisory outline regional plan is due at the end of the year, and will be issued as soon as possible thereafter.
Is the Minister aware that the county engineer gives it as his opinion, in connection with the further extension of the Dublin North regional water supply scheme—and the same relates to sewerage for that whole general area—pipe sizes cannot be designed until we know or have a fair idea in advance of what is likely to be the future population of the area and that he says he cannot proceed until he gets the Myles Wright report?
Put that way, this sounds very convincing but there is another way of looking at it, that is, that the consultant's report and advice are primarily for the Minister for Local Government as to the regions, so that the Minister for Local Government, in due course, towards the end of October, 1967, will be in a position as a result of the advice that he will have got on a regional basis to correlate the area development plans that will then emerge from the various local authorities within the region. It is not true to imply, as is being implied, that this report will be the unalterable plan and that as soon as you get it, you will know everything that will happen for the next 100 years. That is not likely to be the case. It must be regarded as an assistance to the local planning officers. Whatever information can be made available as a result of this report is being passed on to local planning officers for their assistance. It does not follow that the report from the consultant will be the determining factor as to the plan for County Dublin, for the city or any other area. Primarily, it is for the purpose of trying, on a regional basis, to help the Minister and his officials in Local Government to correlate the various plans that will arise from the various planning areas within the region a year from now.
Is it not possible that the Myles Wright Report may recommend a large satellite town in North County Dublin, which would definitely influence pipe sizes?
No. This eminent gentleman's report will be of great interest to all of us, but, whether it relates to a satellite town, north, south, east or west of Dublin, it does not necessarily follow that that is what we in Local Government and in the local planning areas will do. His views will be of assistance to all of us in generating our own plan. His report will be an assistance but should not be regarded as a blueprint.
It is a hold-up at the moment, I am sorry to say.
It is a way out to say so, anyhow.