asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by many people in obtaining a decision in relation to an application for by-law approval from Dublin County Council and Dublin Corporation subsequent to the relevant project having obtained full planning permission and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am not aware of any serious difficulties being experienced by people seeking by-law approval from Dublin County Council and Dublin Corporation although I understand that there is some delay in processing applications in the Dublin Corporation area due to the difficulty of recruiting and retaining technical staff.

I should point out that the operation of their building by-laws is a matter for the local authority concerned and not one in which I have any powers to intervene.

I am grateful to the Minister for the information. Could he indicate when the national building regulations which will supersede the present by-laws will be formally proposed and administered?

As far as I know, in a few weeks' time.

Does that mean that at the end of June the national building regulations will be in operation throughout the entire country?

I hope so.

Is there adequate technical staff to administer those building regulations nationwide if they are implemented by the end of June?

We are reasonably satisfied that there is adequate staff.

Will the Minister indicate how it is not possible for Dublin Corporation to administer the existing by laws with their existing staff?

There are more people looking for this type of approval than for planning permission.

That is why I asked the question.

It is not the case in other parts of the country.

In view of the fact that there is a greater delay and a greater volume of people involved and that it concerns only one local authority, would the Minister have immediate discussions with Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council to make provision for extra staff, if there is a public service bar on it?

I will ask them to look into the matter.