Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will initiate measures to allow the National Roads Authority to liaise with An Bord Pleanála on a pre-planning basis on projects of strategic public interest, such as the Adare bypass project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44522/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The planning, design and implementation of individual national road schemes are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007 in conjunction with the relevant road authorities.

The main purpose of the Roads Bill 2014, which has completed Second Stage in the Dáil, is to facilitate the merger of the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA). The Bill also provides for a number of amendments to the existing provisions of the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007.

At present there is no provision in either the Roads Acts or the Planning Acts for the NRA or road authorities to enter into pre-planning application consultations with An Bord Pleanála in relation to proposed road developments.

I believe that there is merit in providing for such consultations and accordingly I will seek to introduce an amendment in this regard in the Roads Bill at Committee Stage.

As pre-planning consultations are a function of An Bord Pleanála, and therefore primarily a planning matter, my Department is liaising with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and An Bord Pleanála, as well as with the National Roads Authority, on the matter.