Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. He is correct that we have seen the hierarchy of road users model included in many Government publications for many years. It is a recognised hierarchy. I have sought to introduce a definition of it and to apply it right the way down through the hierarchy of our planning system. My amendments, including amendment No. 144 and others, relate to the NPF, national planning statements, regional spatial and economic strategies, RSES, development plans and housing strategies, right down to settlement-specific objectives. The inclusion of that definition would give greater powers to the local or regional authorities when they are setting out those plans and to the Oireachtas when it is setting out the NPF. It is absolutely critical.

This Bill has been referred to as once-in-a-generation legislation. We owe it to the next generation to take whatever specific climate action we can. I introduced these amendments as a climate action objective and I have further amendments on climate action. It is well recognised and documented that our challenges on transport emissions are probably going to be the greatest challenges we face in trying to address climate change.

Amendment No. 31 seeks to introduce a definition of "transport-orientated development" and there are various definitions of it. I have heard it said that TOD is about big-level and high-capacity rail lines and high-capacity bus services. However, if one thinks about it, it means development around transport. We should not limit our view of transport just to high-capacity rail or high-capacity bus services. Transport is about how people get around their towns, how they get to school, work and shops, and how they get to transport hubs to reach higher frequency transport. My definition of "transport-orientated development" focuses on development. It is not about the transport system but focuses on development that is compact, mixed use and accessible, with extensive pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that is integrated with public transport by clustering jobs, housing, services and amenities around public transport nodes.

I think the Minister of State said that a definition for "transport-orientated development" is being worked on. Is that through the Department of Transport or the Department of housing?