Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

My amendment No. 43 will clarify where I stand on the other amendments. The amendment is designed to give due recognition in the strategic plan to local communities and residents in both the immediate areas of the Grangegorman site or neighbourhood and the wider community that surrounds it. The amendment recognises the impact this development will have over a wider area and ensures that consultation will take place with the broader reaches of the local community as well as the Grangegorman neighbourhood site.

The effect of the amendment would mean that in preparing a draft of the strategic plan, the agency shall consult with the Dublin City Council, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, the Dublin Transportation Office, Córas Iompair Éireann, the Railway Procurement Agency, other relevant bodies established by or under statute, the local community, including the Grangegorman neighbourhood, and other persons with a relevant interest in the matter. In light of this, the Bill makes adequate provision for consultation with local residents. That section is now strengthened and takes on board what the Deputies are talking about. The provision is included specifically for the residents in sections 8(1)(k), 11(3)(b) and (c), 11(4)(b) and section 20. There is the communications strategy, the consultancy group, which will include local residents, and the appointment of a local resident to the agency. Therefore, I do not propose to accept the amendments.

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