(Waterford) asked the Minister for Finance if he will accept the South-East and Regional Development Organisations report entitled Regional Report and Development Strategy 1980 setting out the objectives, requirement, resources, investment needs etc. of the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

12.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will now receive the Report of the South-Eastern Regional Development Organisation and their recommendations for economic development in the area.

13.

andMr. Yates asked the Minister for Finance if he will accept the report complied by the South-Eastern Regional Development Organisation entitled Regional Report and Development Strategy 1980; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

(Clare): It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 11, 12 and 13 together. The South-Eastern Regional Development Organisation's Regional Report and Development Strategy 1980 has been received and examined in my Department. I would like to express my appreciation of the report. Its proposals are being taken into account in the preparation of the national economic plan now under way.

Can the Minister say, after successive Governments having declined to accept personally the report in question, whether the Government entertain any abiding antipathy to the report or to its contents?

(Clare): The old plan will be considered in the context of the national plan.

Is the Minister aware that for the past two years the organisation in question have been attempting to lodge the report officially with the Government but that to date this has not been done?

(Clare): I understand also that the regional development organisation were to furnish a further plan with regard to resources in the area. That further plan has not reached my Department yet but we have asked the Minister for the Environment if he can arrange to let us have a copy. We have not yet received any such copy.

Is the Minister satisfied that the regional development organisations perform a useful function?

(Clare): As the Minister for the Environment is responsible for them, he would be in a better position to answer that question.

It is a separate question.