asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement on the present position concerning the State's exemption from the normal planning process of application, public information and appeal; and the measures, if any he intends to take to bring this into line with the normal planning process.

The present position, unchanged since 1963, is that State authorities are not subject to normal planning procedures but only to a limited consultation with the planning authority. The real scope of this exclusion from the planning process has however been reduced by the transfer of functions from central Government to An Post and An Bord Telecom and the proposed transfer to the Irish Forestry Board.

Implementation of EC Directive 85/337 will permit greater public participation in the prior assessment of certain projects, including projects undertaken by the State, which are likely to have a significant effect on the environment.

I will be looking at the matter raised in the question both in this context and when the next miscellaneous planning Bill is being contemplated.