asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, to update the planning regulations pertaining to provender mills, milk processing plants and abbatoirs, situated in or near towns or cities.

I have no such plans. In general, developments of the type described require planning permission in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 and 1976. In addition such plants are subject to controls by the Minister for Agriculture.

Does the Minister think it right and proper in this day and age that there can be an urban area, such as a dense, city centre area, in which one can find extraordinary throwbacks from previous centuries, of things, such as abattoirs referred to in the question? Would the Minister consider the introduction of a little more enlightened approach than operates at present in relation to some of these developments which, to put it mildly, are obnoxious?

In general these developments do require planning permission.

Most of these have an established usage. I am not suggesting that plans for abattoirs are being sought, or getting permission; I am referring to those that have been there for 80, 90 or 100 years, long before the Planning Acts were ever dreamt of. There are many dozens of them and they are causing very great problems.

Well, the health authorities should take the necessary action if they are a health hazard.

Yes, but the Minister is Minister for the Environment.

Yes, but at local level surely the health authorities are the people to whom complaints should be made.

Is the Minister aware that the health authorities have functions only in respect of a certain containment of the more offensive of odours and so on, when the basic problem is the fact that an abattoir or a slaughterhouse can be sited literally ten to 12 feet from the back of a children's bedroom? The basic problem is that they should not be there. Has the Minister any ideas about facilitating their exit to areas where they might be more happily homed?

I agree with the Deputy, they should not be there but, as far as I am aware, most local authorities have taken the necessary steps to build abattoirs—quite a number I know of—but these should not still be in existence. As far as I am aware the tendency with regard to abattoirs in general is that they are fading out rapidly because most retailers buy meat direct from the factories, and they are no longer killing on the same scale.

Well, there are still one or two in my constituency.

Probably there are.

Would the Minister not have regard to the question asked by Deputy J. Walsh who knows this particular aspect of agricultural business? Would the Minister not look again to see if there is not a necessity—to quote from the question—"to update the planning regulations" in relation not only to abattoirs but to the whole aspect of agribusiness which can be obnoxious?

I will have a look. But, as far as I know, in general, they do have to have planning permission if they are near a built-up area, a road or anything like that.