David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know it does not have to be about money but, invariably, that is what happens. Is there any scheme in the country where it is not about money? At some stage, the Minister of State might send me examples of LISs so we could tell local authorities and owners that they can do it in a different way. Initially, it was the case that it was not only about money but, recently, it is almost invariably the case that one makes a financial contribution, the local authority will match it with so much and they will get the work done, and I am aware of areas where that has happened. I refer to a small pothole appearing in a road somewhere that gets bigger where a small amount of work could have sorted the problem on day one, and a local person could do it if he or she was allowed do it. On this matter, one should think outside the box.

This new agency should also have a role in looking at the economics of transport, in particular, in small towns. Many small town high streets are dying because of out-of-town shopping centres. There are parking charges in the town and no parking charges in the out-of-town shopping centres. It is difficult to park in towns and people are going to out-of-town shopping centres. Many such towns are dying and shops are closing. We need to ask this new agency to identify how the transport policies and research impacts on this big problem that is happening all over the place.

It is good to bring these agencies together but we also must be cognisant of using this legislation and this new agency in a positive way. We must ensure the agency does not become remote from the people. It must have some way of interacting and being close to the people. We are giving the new local authorities being established a new role. This new agency should set up structures to engage with the councillors and the local Deputies at least once a year and tell us what they are at, and have a website, email or portal so they can take suggestions, complaints and ideas from the public and from others.

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