Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
544. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will seek an immediate EU derogation for Tipperary County Council to begin to re-align a series of dangerous bends on the R-498 Nenagh-Thurles road at Latteragh, County Tipperary; the efforts his Department have made to address this dangerous situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46204/14]
View answerUnder section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, a local authority may undertake specific development works subject to the procedures set out in Part 8 of the Regulations. Such works include the construction, widening or realignment of a road of over 100 metres in an urban area, or of over one kilometre in any other area. However, where the project relates to:
- a new road of four or more lanes, or the realignment or widening of an existing road so as to provide four or more lanes, where such new, realigned or widened road would be 500 metres or more in length in an urban area, or eight kilometres in length in a rural area; or
- any road development which would be likely to have significant effects on the environment,
the relevant authority must, in accordance with the provisions of EU Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in respect of the project and submit it to An Bord Pleanála for approval under section 51 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended.
Neither I nor my Department have any role in relation to the carrying out of road developments by local authorities. Road policy is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
