Minister accepts O’Donovan proposal to amend Roads Bill

Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has secured the agreement of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, to amend the Roads Bill 2014. Patrick O’Donovan sought an amendment that would allow the National Roads Authority to carry out pre-planning consultations with An Bord Pleanála before making applications for planning permission to construct new roads.

“I’m glad that the Minister has accepted my proposal. I met with officials of the NRA, Limerick County Council and the Department of Transport after the decision was made by An Bord Pleanála to reject the proposed Adare bypass. One of the issues raised was that the NRA was not allowed to have a pre-planning meeting with An Bord Pleanála as part of the route selection and design of the route. I found this bizarre and said at the time that most people building houses or extensions have pre-planning meetings, and yet we have a situation where major road projects can’t follow the same process.”

Patrick O’Donovan raised the issue several times in Dáil Éireann with the Taoiseach and the previous Minister Leo Varadkar. He said that that the Bill would be of major importance to advancing the Adare bypass and other projects because now there will be a clear planning process.

“There was no point in starting another route selection process for Adare with this issue unresolved. It could have meant that millions more would be wasted after an incomplete process and we would continue to be left with no route. Under my proposal, which I’m delighted that the Minister has accepted, Councils and the NRA will be able to trash out issues before costly applications are made. It might sound like an obvious thing to do, but without this change these discussions could not take place.

“I hope that the Bill would go through the Dáil and Seanad quickly as I’m anxious to see a route selection and planning process restarted for Adare.

“I don’t have a particular preference for any route. What I want, and what the people of Adare and surrounding areas want, is to see the project advanced. My proposal, which the Minister is including in the Bill, will help considerably in this work”