asked the Minister for Local Government when he expects to be able to announce a decision with respect to the Buchanan Report recommendations in favour of the establishment of growth centres at Cork, Limerick-Shannon, Sligo, Athlone, Dundalk, Drogheda, Tralee and Letter-kenny and possibly also Castlebar and Cavan, in addition to the cities of Galway and Waterford which have already been selected as growth centres.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Buchanan Report.
6.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply on 24th February last to a question by Deputy Desmond on this matter.
Does that mean that the Minister has made no such decision and has no idea when it will be made?
It means that the examination referred to in my reply to Deputy Desmond has not been completed.
After 18 months since receipt of the report?
The 24th February is not 18 months ago. It is less than two months.
Would the Minister not agree that there are certain towns and areas specified which quite obviously should be growth centres and the question mark only arises in regard to certain others and will he not come out with a statement as soon as possible about these particular places which obviously would be growth centres?
A decision to designate certain towns as growth centres is a very serious one and will be taken by the Government only after an examination of all the considerations involved.
Can the Minister say whether we will have any information on this report before the end of the year?
I will not give any forecast as to when it will be available.
Based on the progress to date, would the Minister have any idea when it will be available?
I may have an idea but I do not intend to give a forecast.
That clarifies the matter.
Will the Minister agree that the study he mentioned was not commenced until February and that this means he took no action for 17 months after he received the report?
I did not say the study did not commence until February of this year. I said my reply to Deputy Desmond was in February and that is not 18 months ago.
I suggest 18 months elapsed since the recommendation was made but the Minister said only two months elapsed since the inquiry started.
I said the examination to which I referred last February had not been completed. It is not two months ago since I referred to it.
(Interruptions.)
May I inquire from the Minister if from now until the end of the current Dáil Deputy FitzGerald and I and other Deputies should repeat this question each month?
If the Deputy likes. That is a matter for the Deputies.
It shows the extent of the Government's seriousness in considering economic development.
(Interruptions.)
The Government will continue to consider the matter thoroughly and will not make a rush decision.
We did not think they would.
A rush decision.
Any decision.
(Cavan): Does the Minister appreciate that the delay is making it very difficult for certain areas and towns to plan such things as water and sewage schemes? Will he give some indication to areas and towns so affected of the extent to which they should develop these schemes?
They are not inhibited in any way.
It is obvious that they are inhibited.
They are not. Development plans have been made in practically every case.