Ms Anne Graham:

The NTA is not a land use planner. We respond to how others plan to use land. The national planning framework is a key document and strategy that will come forward and we must be mindful of it in the context of transport delivery in the future. Below that are the regional authorities that set out how land is developed and transport is a key part. They would have to take account of the greater Dublin area transport strategy when they consider the next regional planning guidelines.

Other decisions are made on how to develop this State. The Department then supports whatever development pattern is decided upon by the national planning framework, the regional authorities and the local authorities.