asked the Minister for the Environment the areas covered by each regional development organisation; the development studies that have been carried out by each regional development organisation; the mechanism, if any, which exists to evaluate these reports at a national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Regional Development Organisations.
24.
The areas of the regional development organisations are as follows:
Donegal RDO, County Donegal; Eastern RDO, Dublin County and County Borough and Counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow; Galway-Mayo RDO, Counties Galway and Mayo; Midlands RDO, Counties Roscommon, Westmeath, Longford, Offaly and Laois; Midwest RDO, Counties Clare and Tipperary (NR) and Limerick County and County Borough; North-East RDO, Counties Cavan, Louth and Monaghan; Sligo-Leitrim RDO, Counties Sligo and Leitrim; South-East RDO, Counties Tipperary (SR), Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford and Waterford County and County Borough; South-West RDO, Cork County Borough and Counties Cork and Kerry.
A large number of studies relating to matters such as water resources, industrial location and road needs have been commissioned by the RDOs and, in six of the nine regions, studies concerned with medium to long term development strategy have been completed. A further study of this kind covering the Donegal and Sligo-Leitrim regions is in progress and a study for the south-west is expected to commence in 1986.
The regional strategy studies are advisory only and no special mechanism exists at national level to evaluate them. However, the RDOs normally seek reaction to their reports from Government Departments and agencies concerned with particular matters covered by the studies.