Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Retail Sector Developments.

Ivan Yates

Question:

378 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, further to his statements at the Oireachtas Joint Committee meeting on 25 October 2000, his attention has been drawn to the fact that the retail planning studies unit of UCD has denied that there was any communication between them and the Minister or his Department in June 1998 in relation to retail planning guidelines; and if he can produce any written or documentary data to support his assertions in view of the conflict of information in this matter. [25215/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

During my appearance before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government on 25 October 2000, in connection with the retail planning guidelines, I said that in arriving at the decision on the level at which the cap on supermarket size should be set, one of the sources of information relied on was information from the retail studies centre in UCD. While at one stage during the discussion I referred to this information as a commissioned study, I subsequently referred to the information more accurately as published information from the retail studies centre at UCD. The Department purchased The Irish Shopping Centre Digest and The Dublin Shopping Centre Digest from UCD and these documents were an input to the decision making process.

Question No. 379 taken with Question No. 123.