Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 54, line 11, after “importance” to insert the following: “and is primarily for the purposes of providing public transport or active (walking or cycling) transport infrastructure, only where the scheme or proposed road development will not contribute to carbon emissions from the transport sector and only where the scheme or proposed road development will not otherwise increase private vehicle travel, induced demand through the provision of road capacity for private vehicle use or induced demand through the provision of private car storage”.

Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, relate to new powers to be given to An Bord Pleanála to override development plans or local area plans. I seek to attach conditionality to that clause so there is not an unintended consequence. That is the intent. We do not want an unintended consequence that may lead to more driving and induced driving. On No. 8, I understand the NTA would have compulsory purchase order, CPO powers to acquire land so I have a concern it could do so to replace private parking. That pulls against the objective, and indeed against the Government policy seeking to reallocate road space away from private vehicles. Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, and 8 have merit and I am interested in hearing the Minister's thoughts.

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