Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ann Phelan, is present given that she also has responsibility for rural affairs. The regeneration of rural areas and the ability to sustain farm families will depend on having in place planning rules, guidelines and laws that are appropriate, fair and balanced. I am concerned at what appears to be a blanket policy being pursued by the National Roads Authority on new developments, specifically regarding permission for new access points to national secondary routes. This policy is having a detrimental impact on farm families.

I speak on behalf of the sons and daughters of farmers who take over and operate a family farm and, understandably, wish to build a home. They find it increasingly difficult to obtain planning permission for a home where the farm adjoins a national secondary route. I am aware of cases where local authorities, in their wisdom and having taken into account all relevant factors, have decided, on balance, to grant planning permission and the National Roads Authority has successfully appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála and had it overturned.

I am fully cognisant of the need to ensure road safety is at the core of any decision on planning. I would run a mile from any planning application if I believed it would compromise road safety in any way. However, the idea that all developments on national routes and all access to them will generate excessive traffic and create road hazards is not fully accurate. Those involved in policy in the National Roads Authority and local authorities who are demanding that sons and daughters of farm families build homes elsewhere should consider the road safety issues being caused by young farmers having to drive miles every day to reach their farms. What about the road safety issues that arise for a dairy farmer who must drive one or two miles to his or her place of occupation twice in a single night? Each case must be considered on its individual merits.

As a former member of a local authority, I worked on local development plans, which are, in the main, balanced and fair. It appears, however, that the National Roads Authority now rules the roost in terms of council decision-making on national secondary routes. I accept that the road works planned on some of these routes need to be taken into account. Given her responsibility for preserving, developing and defending rural areas, the Minister of State must speak to representatives of the National Roads Authority and local authorities to ensure decisions are fair and balanced. We must not have a blanket policy emanating from Waterloo Road or the Department. Each local authority, through its highly qualified road engineers, planners and directors of services, must be in a position to use its discretion with wisdom and caution.

If the Minister of State wants to succeed in regenerating and rebuilding rural Ireland, she knows as well as I do that, at a minimum, we must ensure strong farm families and farming communities are maintained. If one is fortunate or unfortunate enough to live adjoining a national secondary route, one's options from a planning perspective are very limited. I seek the Minister of State's assistance in this matter by taking a hands-on approach with the National Roads Authority and local authorities to ensure they show a degree of common sense.

I stress again my unwavering view that road safety must never be compromised. Nevertheless, it is possible to have regard to road safety and ensure families are accommodated from a planning perspective.