Róisín Shortall
Ceist:346 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport his plans to establish a single transport and land use authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7092/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 2 March 2004
Ceisteanna (265)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government consultation paper, New Institutional Arrangements for Land Use and Transport in the Greater Dublin Area, was published jointly by the Departments of the Environment and Local Government and Public Enterprise in April 2001. The paper proposed the establishment of a new strategic land use and transportation planning authority for the greater Dublin area. Developments since the publication of this consultation document have caused me to review its proposals. The regional authorities are currently finalising regional planning guidelines under the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000. These will provide effective regional land use strategies consistent with the national spatial strategy. The Dublin and mid-east regional authorities are collaborating to produce a single set of guidelines for the greater Dublin area. The DTO is continuing to carry out effective strategic transport planning for the greater Dublin area.
I have concluded that the establishment of an independent national public transport procurement and regulatory body is the most effective way of implementing regulatory reform. In the light of these developments the policy objectives of effective land use and transport planning can, for the present, be successfully addressed within these existing structures. It is not a priority to establish a strategic land use and transportation authority for the greater Dublin area.