asked the Minister for Local Government if he will enumerate the types of assistance being offered to local authorities in the revision of their development plans.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Development Plans.
92.
I have already issued detailed general advice to planning authorities in connection with the statutory review of their development plans, including advice on specific development and control problems of particular concern to them. This advice was contained in a circular letter issued by my Department on 15th January last. Copies of the circular were sent to all Deputies at the end of last month in response to a request made to the Parliamentary Secretary during the course of the debate on the Estimate for my Department.
While the circular had to stress that the responsibility for the production of effective development plans rested with the planning authorities, it promised all possible assistance to them from my Department and An Foras Forbartha. It listed a number of planning studies, either completed or expected to be completed in the near future, which would be of particular benefit to them. It also mentioned that my Department, in co-operation with An Foras Forbartha, would be organising a number of conferences and seminars dealing with particular aspects of development plans, and that the Department's administrative and technical planning staffs would be available to advise and assist in relation to any particular problems planning authorities may have. Action along these lines has in fact already been taken. A planning officer of my Department has had local discussions in 22 counties over the past three months about the general planning position.
Finally, I think I should mention the preparation of regional reports by the regional development organisations in which my Department participates. A lot of the work that has gone into the preparation of these reports will be of considerable value in the statutory review of the plans.