Vol. 472 No. 3
252 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on whether Ireland should evaluate the United Kingdom system of assessing planning applications by the use of enterprise centres in view of the fact that the long periods experienced in awaiting planning permissions have resulted in the loss of investment and jobs to this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23255/96]
Regulatory processes and procedures can be one of many factors which facilitate or impede the location of internationally mobile investment projects in a particular country. While planning difficulties may have been a contributory factor in the final decision of a small number of investment projects to locate elsewhere, there is a need to balance industrial policy objectives with a proper local democratic interest in the planning process. Against this background, my Department, in conjunction with Forfás and the Department of the Environment, is currently examining the impact of planning on foreign direct investment projects with a view to bringing about improvements in procedures and decision times in line with best international practice. This examination includes an evaluation of the UK enterprise centres' model which may indeed present a basis for progress.
