Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My question relates to housing and planning. In a previous testimony we heard about the tension between the national development plan and the national planning framework. There is a concern around the emphasis on roads versus, for example, other forms of infrastructure. I have two specific questions. First, in terms of how and where we live and new developments, I refer to the remains of our rail network which was disbanded. Are there plans to examine that as potential important future infrastructure? What measures are being planned to protect that?

Second, in terms of rights of way, we talk about the potential for cycle pathways, walking pathways and rural access. We have heard how people have to drive 2 km into a town in rural Ireland because they cannot-----