Transport plan requires planning law change - IBEC

Planning regulations will have to be reformed if the Government’s new transport plan is to be successful, business leaders claimed today.

The business and employers group, IBEC, welcomed the 10-year blueprint as an important indication of the Government’s determination to overcome infrastructure deficits which are undermining national competitiveness.

But IBEC Transport Director Reg McCabe said delivery of the plan in the 10-year timeframe will be a major challenge for the agencies charged with implementation.

“If the vital projects identified in the plan are to be delivered on time and on budget, major reforms relating to planning and judicial review are urgently needed,” he said.

“There are already significant problems with the implementation of current infrastructure projects, as illustrated by public capital programme figures to September.

“Despite the introduction of reforms, such as the five-year spending envelopes, infrastructure spending is running at almost 12% behind Department of Finance projections for the year.”

Mr McCabe said IBEC was calling on the Government to publish its proposed legislation on strategic infrastructure which is intended to fast-track the planning process for major projects.

But he said the organisation is concerned that these proposals will have only limited impact unless accompanied by measures to tackle legal challenges.

He called on Justice Minister Michael McDowell to urgently introduce measures to deal with the unnecessary delays caused by legal challenges to planning approvals.

IBEC is also concerned that elements of the statutory process, particularly environmental impact statements (EIS), are overly prescriptive and consequently stifle innovation and inhibit the ability of the private sector to deliver cost savings, he added.