Vol. 543 No. 2
71 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the efforts he has made to resolve the dispute with land owners which has already set back parts of the road building programme by at least six months. [26118/01]
High level discussions have taken place between my Department and representatives of the farming community with a view to resolving problems concerning the compulsory acquisition of farmland for national roads. Compulsory acquisition of land for public purposes, on the basis of fair compensation to landowners, has operated widely in Ireland for many years and is supported by the Constitution and a range of legislative proposals which have been regularly upheld by the courts. Discussions are taking place in the context of the commitment in the PPF to the fair and efficient implementation of compulsory purchase orders. I am concerned that the remaining difficulties should be overcome in the shortest possible time to facilitate the achievement of the ambitious road improvement targets set out in the NDP.
I bitterly regret the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, is not here today and that he made no effort to inform the House that he would be absent. He has not been here to answer questions for five months. Spokespersons would have facilitated a change of date for questions if it had been required. It is wrong that the Minister did not contact the House to inform Deputies of his absence.
While I thank the Minister of State for his reply, it does not answer my question. Does he realise how critical this problem has become? No less than 30 major road building projects are at a complete standstill and major inter-urban roads are being held up. Major bypasses, such as those around Monaghan, Gorey, Castleblayney and Tuam, have been held up for between four months and a year, although roads such as those serving Galway, Cork and Waterford have been most affected. Most assessment of environmental impact has to be done in the spring and summer, so it cannot take place until next year, assuming problems have been solved by then. This means that projects will begin at the same time, which will lead to capacity problems. It is possible that certain projects will not take place within the period of the national development plan. At the request of the Government, many building teams, designers and site investigators went all over the world to gather expertise in professional services.
The Deputy should ask a question.
I am coming to that. The jobs of the people to whom I have referred are in jeopardy. Some people have binding contracts with local authorities and some have made claims in order to stand still. Does the Government feel a sense of urgency about this matter or is it engaging in a deliberate ploy to stop spending under the national development plan?
I assure the Deputy that the Government does not have a ploy to delay implementation of the roads aspect of the national development plan. The delays that have occurred are matters of deep concern. I am sure the Deputy will accept that the Government cannot give in to every outlandish demand that is made. The compulsory purchase system has been established for a long time and its procedures have been upheld by court cases and arbitration. It is the duty of the Government to ensure the spending of taxpayers' money is protected. Negotiation cannot be carried out in this House, but it is proceeding at a high level. It is hoped that the framework that is being worked out will help to resolve the impasse. The Government's desire is to resolve this matter as quickly as possible and to proceed with the urgent national road construction projects that have been delayed.
Has a request been made to the farmers involved in the boycott to allow site investigation work to continue as a gesture of goodwill to the rest of the nation which stood on its head during the foot and mouth disease crisis? I do not think such a gesture would prejudice the case for compensation. Will the arrangements which are being negotiated for farmers apply to all people whose land is the subject of a compulsory purchase order?
We will have to await the outcome of discussions and negotiations that are ongoing. I join the Deputy in appealing to farmers to allow survey work to proceed on their lands. Delays will add substantially to the overall cost of projects, a cost which ultimately will be paid by the taxpayer.
