Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I assure theDeputythat it is not in the Bill because it is a matter of course in respect of road schemes, particularly in the National Roads Authority. The Road Traffic Act 1994 provides for the publication of notices in newspapers where a road scheme is proposed for submission to An Bord Pleanála; in the case of the proposed amendment to the Roads Act 1993 or where it is proposed to make new by-laws; and in the case of a proposed amendment to the Road Traffic Act 1994. The notices specify where a copy of the draft scheme or by-laws may be inspected and it is open to the road authority to include details of website access in the newspaper notices. That is common practice now and it is not necessary, as proposed by the Deputy, to insert an express requirement to specify a website mode of access for inspection of the appropriate documents. Roads authorities make widespread use of the Internet for this and many other purposes. The amendment is not deemed necessary.

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