Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
318. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which regional development plans must have regard to other national policies including the NTA transport strategy; the extent to which the NTA must have regard to the Regional Development Strategy; the policy hierarchy with regard to national development policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17039/20]
View answerIn order to ensure coherence across the broad range of national policies generally, Section 23(7)(a) and (c) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), states that Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) “shall take account of” any relevant policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or of any Minister of the Government, including any national plans, policies or strategies” and that the “regional assemblies in respect of the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) shall ensure that the strategy is consistent with the transport strategy of the National Transport Authority (NTA)”.
In the transport area, Section 12 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 requires the preparation and adoption of a statutory transport strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The making of a transport strategy for the region is a core function of the National Transport Authority (NTA). In making that transport strategy, the NTA is required, in accordance with Section 12(6) of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, to "ensure that the transport strategy is consistent with" the relevant land use strategy for the region.
Through the inter-dependent approach set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, legislative provision is made for land use planning and transport planning to operate in an integrated and coordinated basis.
