Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 781: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to introduce legislation to ensure that a fairer system is available to all planning applicants. [27649/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Policy as regards development on national roads has been consistent for many years; it was developed in consideration of the need to protect the safety of road users, as well as the substantial investment in national roads. The policy was restated recently in my Department's Draft Development Management Guidelines, which are expected to be issued in final form before the end of this year.

These Guidelines state that, as a general policy, the location of new means of access to national primary roads, or residential, commercial, industrial or other development dependent on such means of access should not be permitted except in areas where a speed limit of 30-40 m.p.h. applies or in case of infilling, in the existing built-up areas. It is also stated that the same considerations apply to national secondary roads.

Under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, the National Roads Authority must be consulted in relation to all planning applications where the proposed development would involve the formation or widening of an access to a national road — except in a built up area — or where it might give rise to a significant increase in the volume of traffic using a national road.

Any submissions made by the NRA on a planning application must, as with all submissions, be taken into account by the planning authority in making its decision. It is open to the NRA, as it is to any person or body who made a submission, to appeal the decision of a planning authority to An Bord Pleanála.

The system in place as regards development on national roads is fair and transparent. It is not proposed to introduce amending legislation in this area.