Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I have concerns about the planning regulations for developments which front on to national primary roads. I am aware of several cases in which planning permission was granted by local authorities but appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the National Roads Authority. On occasion, objections have been made to the construction of single houses.

This year, a major garage in my town applied to Mayo County Council for planning permission. The National Roads Authority made critical observations on the application. I am delighted the garage was granted permission but a young couple were refused planning permission by Mayo County Council to build a house 200 yards away on the same road. I interceded on behalf of the couple, who subsequently made a successful application to the council. However, the NRA objected to the development. The couple asked me why the NRA objected to their development but not to the garage. I made serious allegations in this House, which I stand over, but I will not repeat them tonight.

I wrote to the NRA to seek an explanation as to why it did not follow through on the observations it made with regard to the garage. The NRA replied that it did not prove feasible to do so within the prescribed period due to the receipt of notification of the council's decision immediately before the Christmas break and the absence of authority personnel on annual leave. Does that mean we will have to wait for someone to advise that the NRA's staff will be on holidays and, therefore, will not object to a planning application?

I urge the Minister of State to persuade the NRA to withdraw its objection to the couple's application on the basis that it did not object to the garage. A couple of hundred cars will enter and leave the garage area but only one or two will leave the couple's private house. The matter must be resolved. The NRA has an obligation to withdraw its objection.

If planning permission for a project is granted the day before the NRA's staff go on holiday, will the agency fail to make objections on safety grounds? That question will have to be answered because I will not let it go. I intend to outline the matter to RTE and will introduce the couple to any Ministers who visit my constituency. This is the couple's only opportunity to build a house.

There should be one planning process under the aegis of local authorities and An Bord Pleanála. An Taisce and the NRA should not be allowed to make objections later than the five week period allowed for observations. I am unhappy about this situation because it is wrong that a State agency should put such a reply in writing. I will ask the Ombudsman to adjudicate on whether the staff of the NRA can avoid their responsibilities simply because they go on holiday. That would mean emergency surgery is cancelled when a hospital consultant takes a holiday or, if the staff of the Oireachtas decide to go on holiday tonight, the Dáil will not work tomorrow. That is not the way this country is run. There should be an investigation into the unfairness in the planning process.

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