Vol. 536 No. 5
262 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has prepared any research or study into the impact on farming and the farming sector of the major road network planned under the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14753/01]
The White Paper on Rural Development provided that administrative procedures would be introduced to ensure awareness of the likely impact of all policy proposals on rural communities. The national development plan was prepared with due regard to this requirement. It is also mandatory for all operational programmes developed under the NDP to monitor the impact of the implementation of these programmes on rural communities. The national roads and public transport sub-programmes of the economic and social infrastructure operational programme were subject both to eco-audit and to assessment for rural impact. Regarding the environmental impact of national roads, the operational programme undertakes that particular care will be taken in route selection and design in order to minimise visual intrusion and impacts on habitats and to avoid severance of communities and land.
