Would the Minister agree that the delay in responding to proposals by local authorities, made in consultation with the Garda authorities in the matter of changing speed limits in towns in the area, is most unreasonable? In one instance there was a delay of three years before there was a response to those proposals. Is the Minister prepared to say that this practice will be changed and that any forthcoming proposals will be dealt with expeditiously?

As far as I am concerned, certainly that would be so, that I would be very happy to deal with them expeditiously. But one must be careful in this regard that what one is doing will hold up in law.

The second point I want to make is that because there were previously complaints about delays in the Department of Local Government, as it was then, some years ago it was decided that the drawing up of by-laws should be handed back to local authorities. That was a good thing. It is done now in consultation with the Garda authorities. They merely come to my Department for rubber stamping — that is an exaggeration of what happens — almost rubber stamping, but that is a good system. If the Deputy knows of any specific instances where the delay has been unreasonable and if he will have his local authority approach me directly, I will have the matter expedited.