Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's point is well made. I did not know until I held this job - it does seem very strange - that the RPA could engage in preplanning consultation with An Bord Pleanála on a Luas project but that the NRA could not do so in the case of a road project. It can certainly be done in the case of a factory or other large development. It makes no sense to me and I am not sure why it is so. It is not provided for in legislation. I do not think that necessarily means that it is precluded, but that is the way it is being interpreted. One thing that frustrates Ministers and the public is that very often millions of euro and a great deal of time can be invested in planning road projects which An Bord Pleanála rejects. It would make a great deal of sense to me if one could sit down with An Bord Pleanála to get a steer on what it might find acceptable or have a problem with. If an amendment could be made with the co-operation of my colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and An Bord Pleanála, it could save us a lot of money and wasted time in the future.

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