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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Compulsory Purchase Orders.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

304 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to reform the compulsory purchase order regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26747/00]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

305 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to review the compensation procedures under the CPO regulation in relation to the new dual carriageways planned under the national develop ment plan to ensure swift development of these routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26749/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together.

The compensation code for compulsory purchase of land, including land required for road development, provides for the payment of compensation by local authorities for lands acquired by them on the authorisation of a duly confirmed CPO. The amount of compensation payable is a matter for negotiation between the landowner and the local authority concerned, or in the event of dispute, for arbitration. The basic rule applied by the property arbitrator under the relevant legislation is the market value of the land. There is also provision for compensation for disturbance, severance and injurious affection. I have no plans to change this system.

It is accepted that, in principle, it is desirable for statutory procedures, including land acquisition, to be completed as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Planning and Development Act, 2000, provides for the transfer of the Minister's functions to An Bord Pleanála and brings about other changes designed to streamline the compulsory purchase order process. These include provision for less formal oral hearings in place of the more formal public local inquiries, the confirmation of compulsory purchase orders by local authorities themselves where there are no objections, time limits on submitting compulsory purchase orders to the board for confirmation, an 18 week objective for making decisions on compulsory purchase orders and shortening the period within which local authorities must serve notice to treat to purchase the land from three years to 18 months. These changes are expected to result in a more effective, streamlined CPO system and should lead to earlier completion of procedures in this area.

In relation to the national development plan and the national roads programme the National Roads Authority is pursuing a broad-ranging package of measures to speed up project delivery.

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