asked the Minister for the Environment the estimated population of the new town of Tallaght, County Dublin; if he will agree that urban status is now urgently appropriate for Tallaght; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tallaght does not at present constitute an identifiable unit for census purposes and an exact population figure is not available. Other indicators would, however, suggest that the population in the general area may now be in the region of 60,000.

I have received an application for town commission status for Tallaght from a group of residents under the Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854. The application is being considered in accordance with the statutory procedure laid down for this purpose. An examination of local government structures generally is being carried out in my Department at present.

Would the Minister agree that Tallaght is a scheduled town under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, that it is an identifiable urban area and that as a town with its own town centre and densely populated area, it requires its own planning authority and its own urban authority if its needs as a town are to be adequately catered for, and that its present situation is unsatisfactory and inadequate coming under the aegis of Dublin County Council, an authority which goes as far as Balbriggan, which is many miles away, an area with completely different local needs? Would the Minister make arrangements to deal with the application for town commission status in the first instance and take a favourable look at the necessity for legislation for urban status for Tallaght?

We are looking at the question of town commission status and the question of an urban authority will be looked at in the context of local government reform.

Would the Minister agree that, when one has an identifiable town such as Tallaght with a high population — I think the figure is considerably higher than 60,000 — it would be good practice from a local government and local authority environmental point of view——

Deputy Taylor seems to be drifting into a Second Stage speech.

I am asking the Minister if he would agree that it would be good practice from a local government point of view that such a cohesive unit should be in charge of its own affairs locally.

With a population of that size, obviously this area should have its own local authority. That is why we want to undertake this review as quickly as possible rather than in a piecemeal fashion. In that context we have Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and a number of new areas which have to be looked at.

I cannot allow a debate on this question.

Could the Minister give an approximate indication when the present application for town commission status from the Tallaght Community Council will have the Minister's decision?

I do not want to give an approximate estimate because rather than looking at an application for town commission status for six months and asking for another status later, I think it is preferable to make a final decision at the start.

The Minister referred to the proposal to introduce legislation for a division of the local government areas within greater Dublin area. Will there be three districts dividing the whole of Dublin? When will the legislation be introduced?

That is a completely different question.

This is in relation to Tallaght. May I ask the Minister if it is proposed that Tallaght will stand alone in the local authority legislation as proposed and will that legislation be ready for next year's local government elections?

It is my intention that the legislation will be ready for next year's local government election.

Does the Minister anticipate that this legislation, complex as it is, will be introduced early next year, as mentioned by the Taoiseach——

Yes.

——that it will be debated in this House and that final arrangements for the existing administrative areas——

That is argument.

No. I asked if the Minister envisages that this can be done before next year's local elections.

That is an argument.

It is a question. I want the Minister to tell me if the division of the Tallaght area will be completed by June next year.

I said that he said. have the legislation for local government reform before the House next year.

That is not what he said. He said it would be ready in time for June.