James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Without the lecture, I came here this morning with a valid point about the projects contained in the national development plan. It is a bit ironic that the national development plan has projects in it that are being brought to court and then subsequently being blocked because of our climate action targets. What has happened in Galway has created a precedent that will impact other areas of the country if the planning process is not done right. I know there is an error within the documentation from a planning perspective, but I have come here with a valid point. All I am asking is that some degree of an audit is carried out in this regard.

I say this because, effectively, if we want to build new public transport infrastructure, as well as roads, we must also acknowledge the fact that the 2018 targets in respect of capital development of new infrastructure is so low that it is very difficult to give the State agencies that must carry out this work the space they need to do it. I know exactly how important it is that we tackle our climate emissions target. I am just making the point to the Minister, however, that the new limits in place now are prohibitive when it comes to putting in new public transport infrastructure and roads. I ask the Minister to please take this point on board.

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