§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the time scale for the establishment of a planning aid service. [86816]
§ Angela SmithPlanning Aid for Northern Ireland was established by the local branch of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and launched at the Millennium Planning Conference in Belfast on 22 June 2000. It has now been in existence for two and a half years. It is independent of Government.
Planning Aid for Northern Ireland has approached the Department of the Environment for financial assistance in further developing the role of the service. The Department's Planning Service and RTPI jointly commissioned a feasibility study in September 2002, the 548W purpose of which is to identify funding to develop a best value Planning Aid Service in Northern Ireland. The outcome of the feasibility study is expected in the New Year.