Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, to the House and welcome the introduction of the Bill. Both before and since I came into the House, I have been struck by the number of times infrastructural improvements have been raised as an issue, whether when canvassing, here in the House or on television and radio programmes. Communities have cried out for improved infrastructure on one hand, and on the other small vocal minorities have prevented improvements going ahead.

The Minister and Minister of State have tackled the issues facing us head on through the manner in which they have framed the Bill. One of the cornerstones of the Bill is the provision for the inclusion of a development. The Bill provides for the insertion of a new section 37A into the principal Act, which in subsection (2) will read:

(a) the development would be of strategic economic or social importance to the State or the region in which it would be situate,

(b) the development would contribute significantly to the fulfilment of any of the objectives in the National Spatial Strategy or in any regional planning guidelines in force in respect of the area in which it would be situate,

(c) the development would have a significant effect on the area of more than one planning authority.

When we consider the plan and aspirations of the national spatial strategy, this legislation fits in completely with them. Both sides of the House agree that we need new and improved infrastructure in a number of areas.

The Bill deals with particular areas, namely, improving the quality of life and protecting the environment, issues that are at the top of any political agenda. It introduces a single stage process for the three areas of energy, environmental protection and transport. We have invested significant sums in putting together programmes such as Transport 21. Vast sums of taxpayers' money will be spent over the coming years and it is only right to protect this money. We have heard a call for value for money many times and this legislation will ensure this happens.

The Minister pointed out that the legislation underpins the functions of local authorities and their members by giving them the opportunity to have a direct input into decisions made by An Bord Pleanála under the Bill. We have all come across situations in our constituencies where issues have arisen because of rogue developers. These developers can have a devastating impact on a community, but in many cases they just walk away from the problem. They go away and set up under another name and are back in business again in no time. The inclusion of this section in the Bill is very welcome.

There is significant investment in infrastructure in the country. The water services investment programme caters for 889 individual schemes, 193 of which will begin this year and 197 of which will begin next year. These programmes affect people's lives directly and it is unfair that in some cases an individual or small vocal group can prevent progress. Several Senators have mentioned the Luas. When the Luas was first mooted in 1990, we spent four years trying to convince a small group that it would be good for their area. The area of Mount Brown in Kilmainham comes to mind. The people there objected strongly to the Luas and their objection entailed a change of the route. The argument went on for four years. Mount Brown is now a declining area because the Luas line does not go through it. The Dublin Port tunnel is another example of how small groups can prevent progress. Approximately 12 years ago we had a public consultation process on the tunnel and it has taken until now to get to where we are.

This Bill will prevent a recurrence of this sort of situation. As the previous speaker said, we must learn from our mistakes. In my area and further north in Dublin, the metro link to the airport and beyond is probably one of the most crucial pieces of infrastructure needed. Another is the extension to the Luas line. Senator Bannon is not usually right, but he was right with regard to the time lost as a result of traffic. This morning, a wet morning, it took an hour and 40 minutes to drive four and a half miles from Donaghmede to Drumcondra. It is not right that this should be the situation. As well as people's time being wasted and the stress put on them, we end up with more emissions from cars and streets while roads become car parks for hours at a time.

Some of the previous delayed infrastructure projects demonstrate to us the waste of taxpayers' money as a result of the lack of legislation such as this, for example, the Carrickmines extension to the M50, where it took five years to get a small section through the planning process. The M3 is another example. It is still under discussion although the past four years have been spent trying to get approval to proceed. There are opinions on both sides, but when we were canvassing in Navan during the by-election, the majority of those we canvassed wanted the M3 to go ahead because they are tired of spending three or four hours commuting to Dublin to work. For the wider good we must tackle this issue.

I am glad the legislation will apply to public and private bodies. I welcome the changes that have taken place with regard to High Court proceedings and judicial review. A number of major projects, although perhaps not of strategic importance, have been held up. For example, the O'Connell Street development plan has been held up for the past six years in judicial review. As a result, there is a decline in the surrounding areas from Parnell Street to Moore Street. We must ensure that whatever process is in place, people have the right to object, to express their opinion and be heard. However, somebody must make the decision and say a project should go ahead or not and whether it is in the public good.

We have reached a stage now, not just in Dublin but throughout the country, where local authorities will not make the necessary decisions and while the Local Government Act dealt with some of that, this Bill is a further extension. The fact that the Bill allows for direct input from members of county councils and corporations and officials is welcome. Consultation with the public is a crucial aspect of this Bill. In fact, the entire consultation process built into the Bill is its most important aspect, particularly with regard to environmental impact statements. Pre-discussions about what should be included in an environmental impact statement will cut back on the time wasted going back and forth between local authorities and An Bord Pleanála.

I welcome the Bill, although more could be included in the Schedule. That being said, I welcome it and wish it speedy passage through the House.