Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
299. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a schedule of his engagements with the chairman of the Land Development Agency since he became Minister; if he will provide a schedule of the roads and land development projects discussed in County Limerick.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14554/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, one of my key priorities is to promote the implementation of the National Planning Framework and facilitate better regional balance and more compact development within all our urban areas, based on the principle of 'transport lead' development. To succeed in this approach which favours the development of new housing close to sustainable transport hubs and other community facilities will require close cooperation between my Department, its agencies, local authorities and my Ministerial colleagues and officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
While I have not had a formal meeting with the Chair of the LDA since my appointment, I have had two direct discussions by phone which took place on 21 January 2021 and the 3 February 2021, in which we briefly discussed the interaction between evolving transport plans for Limerick and the activation of lands for residential development. I also updated the Chair on plans that I have asked my Department, the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail to examine regarding the rapid deployment of a new local rail network for Limerick City, and proposals for the development of the Coonagh-Knockalisheen Distributor Road.
I believe that, by working together, the two state arms of housing and transport have significant potential to transform the local environment in each of our towns and cities for the better of all local communities and I look forward to continued cooperation with my colleagues in Government and agencies such as the Land Development Agency to deliver these outcomes.
