With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
It is not the intention to introduce legislation which would have the result envisaged by Deputy Quinn, but the legislation dealing with the compulsory acquisition of land by local authorities is under examination with a view to preparing proposals to consolidate existing law and to remove certain defects in existing procedures.
While I agree that the present CPO system may contribute to delays in the acquisition of land for redevelopment by local authorities, I doubt that it is a major factor in relation to urban plight. Responsibility for urban renewal is not solely a matter for local authorities. Most redevelopment work in central city and urban areas falls to be undertaken by private developers. The problem is a complex one affected by many factors but as far as redevelopment by local authorities is concerned, an important factor is that in present circumstances the availability of financial resources to finance redevelopment is necessarily limited because of the need to meet more urgent requirements such as housing, roads, water and sewerage.
I would certainly like to see a more expeditious procedure for compulsory purchase of land but it must not be forgotten that the procedure must take account of constitutional requirements and is designed to give adequate notice to persons affected, to ensure that they are dealt with fairly and as far as possible to avoid imposing unnecessary hardship. The possibilities for introducing a more expeditious procedure are, therefore, severely limited.