andMr. Healy asked the Minister for Local Government when the planning study of the region which includes Cork City and county is likely to be completed; and whether it is his intention not to undertake further capital expenditure involving industrial estates in Galway and Waterford until such time as all regional planning structures in the country have been completed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Regional Planning Study.
34.
Mr. Barrett
The current regional planning studies which are being carried out by United Nations consultants in association with An Foras Forbartha and include the areas of Cork city and county are due to be completed about the end of next March.
The work which is in hands by An Foras Tionscal on the establishment of industrial estates in Galway and Waterford is in accordance with the Government policy statement of August, 1965, on development centres and industrial estates. That statement indicated that industrial estates were to be established at Waterford and Galway in advance of the completion of the regional studies and that the experience gained at these centres would be of value in the development of estates in other locations. The statement also indicated that the identification of development centres and the setting up of industrial estates is not intended to involve the discouragement of industrial development at other locations.
Could the Minister say if there is any time limit on these regional investigations?
They are all expected to be completed certainly within the year.