Motorists are likely to have to pay to drive on many of the main road developments proposed in the National Development Plan.
In a series of amendments to the Planning and Development Bill outlined yesterday by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, the National Roads Authority (NRA) and local authorities would get increased powers to charge for driving on national and non-national roads. At present, motorists pay tolls only on the West Link and East Link bridges, both in Dublin. However, it is expected that significant sections of main routes proposed in the National Development Plan will be subject to tolls. u £1 billion of the u£4.4 billion which has been targeted for national road development. It is expected that routes involving private sector financing will have charges. The private sector is expected to provide u £1 billion of the u£4.4 billion which has been targeted for road development.
These may include the new western river crossing in Limerick on the N7, the new bridge over the Suir in Waterford, the second West Link bridge on the M50 as well as the Kilcock-Kinnegad section of the N4.
The existing legislative arrangements for imposing tolls will be amended to transfer the power from the Minister to the NRA in the case of national roads and to local authorities for non-national roads. Mr Michael Tobin, of the NRA, welcomed the changes, which would simplify the process for introducing toll schemes. Mr Dempsey is also making significant amendments to the planning process for major infra structure projects as well as making it easier to organise major concerts in venues such as Slane Castle and Croke Park.
Legal challenges to planning permissions are likely to become more difficult, with new requirements on people seeking judicial reviews in planning cases to show a previous interest in the case.
The existing statutory prohibition on infrastructural development being undertaken while legal proceeding are pending will end. There will also be a new requirement on both An Bord Pleanala and the High Court to give priority to major infrastructural development matters which come within their respective remits.
The Minister also intends to amend the section in the Bill dealing with social housing. This section obliges developers to designate 20 per cent of sites for affordable housing. The amendments are aimed at making it more difficult for developers to avoid the provisions.
The annual controversy with outdoor pop/rock events requiring planning permission approved by the courts is also likely to be ended. Venues such as Croke Park, which have planning permission for a certain number of concerts, will in future not require a licence.
In the case of other venues such as Lansdowne Road, the fact that events have taken place there in the past will be a "material consideration" when deciding whether to issue a licence.
The Planning and Development Bill, which has been debated for almost 100 hours in the Dail and Seanad, is due to be considered in detail in the next two weeks by the Committee on Environment and Local Government.
Mr Dempsey said "many of the amendments arise from the debate that we have had on the Bill in the Oireachtas as well as the many submissions received since the Bill was published".
Among the other changes which being proposed by Mr Dempsey are a requirement on all funfairs to provide a safety certificate to the local authority; all quarries in existence for more than five years to register with the planning authority and new procedures for the recruitment of members of An Bord Pleanala.
Local authorities will be given more powers to control the erection of hoarding on roads, while planning permission will be required for placing telephone kiosks and pedestals in public places. The maximum term of a local authority city/county manager is to be extended from seven to 10 years.