Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I wish to return to the analysis of population growth in the region. I refer the Minister to the report compiled by the HSE on the location of the regional hospital. The maps are included on pages 12 and 18 of the report. I could not bring them with me today because when one prints them over a certain size, one cannot see them. The report examines population figures in 2006, 2015 and 2025. The area around Drogheda is colour coded red, meaning a population density in excess of 239. The rest of County Meath and south Louth, particularly the area around Drogheda, is colour coded yellow, meaning that it is the next most intensive region of population growth.

I do not seek to bring the entire county of Louth under the auspices of the DTA because views in Dundalk are different from those in Drogheda. There are also different expectations of population growth. The key to the Dublin Transport Authority is development. It is clear that there will be massive growth by 2025 in the areas north and south of the Boyne. We ask that the area north of the Boyne come under the auspices of the DTA. If councillors and local authorities are asked to leave one region and join another, other issues will arise. I do not know what the position on the CLÁR programme is in the Cooley Peninsula but rural areas in north County Louth would be concerned that joining the DTA would result in the loss of benefits under other programmes.

The reality is that we cannot use the fact that a county is within the boundary of the BMW region as a bargaining chip when deciding whether a certain part of that country deserves to have proper transport planning. We support proper transport planning, which is the important principle that is at the core of this Bill. It has nothing to do with counties — we are talking about growth centres. The population statistics are self-evident. There is no difference between the parts of south Louth north and south of the River Boyne. I refer to electoral areas like Drogheda east and Drogheda west, which will encounter problems if this change is not made.

A great deal of planning was done in advance of this Bill. Issues such as population growth, the needs of certain areas and various transport matters were examined. This legislation should put them strongly at the heart of commuter life in growing towns like Drogheda. However, the Minister is setting such matters aside. I do not think his argument, which is that part of County Louth will have to leave the BMW area if this amendment is accepted, stands up. I do not think people want the county to leave the BMW region. However, they want their houses to be served by public transport. They want to walk, cycle and use public transport. They will not get such services if we do not amend this Bill.

I wish to repeat my criticism of the Minister's approach. If we had a national transport authority Bill, it is obvious that the major cities would opt to be included in it. Areas like County Louth would be part of the national transport authority. None of the issues relating to the BMW region would arise. We would have decent public transport options. We would definitely not have developer-led planning. The Minister is putting down a marker. I am not being personal when I say that I utterly reject what he is saying. He is not giving adequate weight to the strong, well-researched, clear and independently assessed arguments which are being made. South Louth will be a nightmare for transport planning as a result of this legislation.

I am sure the Minister is aware that it was suggested some time ago, as part of the strategy for the port of Drogheda, that a northern cross route be developed in the town. The entire area north of Drogheda needs a proper road network. Such a network is not being developed by the NRA because there is no national road in the area. We need to invest in road infrastructure if Drogheda is to grow. We now have a mechanism for that, more or less. It is critical that the future transport needs of the area be considered if it is to develop. Is it right and proper that the local authority has to go cap in hand to all the land owners? That is what happened. A properly planned road network was needed, but those involved could not get a VAT refund. The local authority asked developers to pay for the north Drogheda development plan. It said it would pick the consultants if the developers paid them. That is what happened. I am not saying there was anything wrong with it, but it did happen.

At present, local authorities have to go cap in hand to developers when they are deciding what is going to happen — where roads will be developed and who will make the contributions, etc. There is a voluntary relationship between the local authority and the developers. Under this legislation, however, the Dublin transport authority will tell the developers what they must do and how they must do it. The developers will have to go ahead and do it. I am talking about the transport needs of the south Louth area, such as the roads which will have to be linked to the national network in the future. There will be total and absolute chaos if south Louth is not in the Dublin transport authority area.

I would like to conclude by speaking about some of the other issues in the east Meath and south Louth area. People in the east of the town are unable to get to the other side of the Rover Boyne without going through the town centre. The new bridge that is needed has been planned since 1962. If Meath County Council feels that a bridge is needed for economic reasons, is viable in terms of the local transport network and will facilitate A, B or C, it may state that it wants such a bridge to be developed. The authorities on the other side of the river will not have the funds to provide any money towards the bridge, however, if they are not in the Dublin transport authority area. If the Dublin transport authority decides that a major piece of infrastructure such as a new bridge in Drogheda is needed, its writ will extend throughout Meath County Council's administrative area — to the edge of the River Boyne at Mornington — but it will not cross the river to Baltray or adjacent areas in County Louth. How does the Minister propose to deal with this anomaly? He is losing a golden opportunity here.

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