Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to address these amendments together as these have been grouped for discussion. These amendments relate to Part 4, which sets out the functions of the mayor.

Looking to amendment No. 20 first, it proposes the insertion of an additional definition for this Part, adding the "Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy". This is to support the other amendments relating to the Limerick Project Ireland 2040 delivery board and associated transport subgroup. When we were putting together the legislation, we insisted on including the Project Ireland 2040 delivery board because it is overarching in terms of the delivery of infrastructure for Ireland and, more particularly, for Limerick.

LSMATS was published in December 2022. It was prepared by the National Transport Authority, NTA, in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, with the co-operation of Iarnród Éireann. It provides a roadmap for sustainable transport in the region over the next 20 years.

Amendments Nos. 27 and 28 propose the addition of a reference to LSMATS in relation to the functions of the delivery board. These amendments would expand the remit of this group to supporting, co-ordinating and monitoring the implementation of this transport strategy, in addition to other policies, including the national development plan and the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area strategic plan. It also includes the development plan of the delivery board, which, as the Deputy is aware, includes LSMATS. The Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area strategic plan referenced is an integrated land-use and transportation strategy for a metropolitan area which is included in the regional spatial and economic strategy. Amendment No. 29 proposes the deletion of a reference to this plan as a strategy which the Limerick Project Ireland 2040 delivery board transport subgroup will have a function in supporting and the inclusion of the transport strategy in its place. The Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area strategic plan came from the Southern Regional Assembly, as the Deputy is well aware. It determined that each area should do its own transport strategy.

The general scheme of the Bill originally proposed the inclusion of the transport strategy as a plan which the delivery board would have a function in overseeing. However, this Bill has been drafted with regard to the fact that LSMATS is not a statutory document, nor is it defined in legislation. A number of national policies, including the national planning framework, the national sustainable mobility policy and the climate action plan, have committed to extending the National Transport Authority's statutory transport planning remit to the other cities, including the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area, which would make the review and development of future LSMATS a statutory function of the NTA. The Department of Transport is currently scoping the legislative requirements needed to extend the NTA's remit. It would be premature to introduce a provision on LSMATS in advance of legislation to extend the National Transport Authority's planning remit which would place any future LSMATS on a statutory footing. Therefore, it is not appropriate to insert the references to this strategy as proposed in the amendments discussed.

In addition, the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area strategic plan, a policy supported by both the delivery board and transport subgroup in Limerick, will be defined under the Planning and Development Bill 2023. The metropolitan area strategic plan forms part of the hierarchy of statutory plans that sit under the national planning framework and operationalises the national planning framework at a city level. The removal of a reference to LSMATS, as proposed in amendment No. 29, would undermine the connection of this subgroup to Project Ireland 2040. The Deputy will also be aware that I have changed the position so that the mayor will be an ex officiomember of the Southern Regional Assembly. That was not proposed originally.

In any event, I consider the delivery board transport subgroup provides the mayor, as chair, with a sufficient role in transport matters by collaborating with public bodies in the implementation of the plans and strategies referred to and in the provision of transport infrastructure and services in Limerick. We have discussed this particular amendment at length with the Department of Transport. There is scope for the mayor to go into any area, including LSMATS. However, reference to LSMATS was not included in the legislation because it does not have a statutory footing at this time. That is the reason. There is import to the Deputy's propositions. We went over and back on the issue. A considerable amount of work went into framing the legislation to find a way to work with the Department of Transport on it. That is the situation.