asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statement in connection with the present policy which prevents the erection of houses on the main Dublin-Cork road in the parish of Emo and between Abbeyleix and Portlaoise in the parish of Raheen; if he is aware that a number of people desire to erect their houses beside the main road and to comply with regulations requiring them to be erected a reasonable distance from the road; and that the refusal has caused widespread disappointment to people who are anxious to live in rural areas and do not desire to be forced into the already overcrowded towns; and if he will inquire into this matter with a view to having the present policy changed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Frontage Development.
223.
Decisions on planning applications are primarily a matter for the planning authority concerned. When considering applications, they are required to have regard to the proper planning and development of their area and to the provisions of their development plan. I am involved in individual cases only where an appeal is made to me against a decision by the planning authority. I have no information about the cases referred to by the Deputy but in any event it would not be appropriate for me in view of my appelate functions to comment on the merits of these cases.
On the general question of development in open country along the national roads network, however, I would like to say that there are compelling reasons for discouraging such development and for supporting the policies of planning authorities who have included objectives for the protection of the network in their development plans. The national route network comprises less than 6 per cent of our total road mileage but the roads included in it carry a very large proportion of our traffic. With the growth of motor traffic and increased economic activity, the demands on the capacity of the national network is certain to increase rapidly and very substantial investment will be required to improve the network to the desired standards of safety and design. The vital national importance of the network has been recognised by the decision in principle which has been taken by the Government to transfer responsibility for the network to the Minister for Local Government.
It has been established beyond question in this and other countries that frontage development involving the creation of new access points on the main roads carrying heavy and fast traffic reduces the capacity of the roads for the purposes for which they are primarily intended, has a severely adverse effect on traffic safety, and tends to negative the value of the public money expended on their improvement.
The Deputy refers to the alleged frustration of people who wish to live in rural areas, but it is not clear to me that these people could not secure suitable alternative sites fronting on to roads other than the comparatively small mileage of national road which traverses County Laois and thereby save themselves and their families from the hazards involved in living alongside heavily trafficked routes.
The total mileage of national primary and secondary routes in County Laois is only 102 miles, out of a total road mileage in the county of something over 1,300 miles.