Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

An issue which came to my attention and that of the Minister is where An Bord Pleanála refuses to permit major road infrastructural projects to proceed. Local authorities and the National Roads Authority have no power to question why An Bord Pleanála reaches its decision. The Department could very easily fund the NRA to commission new works in Adare without knowing why exactly An Bord Pleanála refused permission in the first instance. The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, does not have the same problem. As the Minister is embarking on the merger of these two bodies is it timely to examine this? We need to ensure any money spent by the taxpayer has a return on investment. We do not need projects being put through the wringer and then turned down for a reason which remains like the third secret of Fatima and no one can find out what it is. Application after application will be lodged and refused. Will the Minister ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to examine this with regard to planning? It is not the case the NRA or local authorities should be able to influence the decisions of An Bord Pleanála but they should be able to question why it arrived at a particular decision so at least they will not make the same mistakes when making a subsequent application.