Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

People will be able to make submissions to An Bord Pleanála. Deputy Gilmore must be the only person in the country who would dispute that infrastructure developments have been delayed in this country for an inordinate amount of time. He gave a highly questionable analysis of the M50. However, I draw his attention a little further down the road to the extraordinary delays that were encountered in the Glen of the Downs on the N11 and the Arklow sewerage scheme which has been locked in legal and planning battles for 12 and a half years. Deputy Gilmore is probably the only Member of the Oireachtas that holds the view he has canvassed here.

An Bord Pleanála did some analysis in this area which reflected that the time taken in High Court proceedings on which judgment was given in 2003 and 2004 was 92 weeks. It took almost two years from the lodging of an appeal to final court decision. It is a fallacy to suggest that we have not had undue delays in delivering planning and infrastructure, and I am surprised that the Deputy would do so.

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