I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 348 together.
In pursuance of the decision announced in the Government's Action on Housing on the principle of designating strategic development zones where the delivery of significant numbers of houses was to be advanced, my Department wrote on 12 July to the authorities in the area covered by the strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area, the other county boroughs and their surrounding counties and to Louth and Westmeath County Councils seeking proposals from them for suitable large scale residential development sites that could be considered for designation under part IX of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as strategic development zones for residential development. Proposals were received from Cork, Fingal, Louth, Meath, South Dublin, Westmeath and Wicklow County Councils and Dublin and Waterford Corporations seeking the designation of a total 25 sites as strategic development zones.