Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
353. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will produce guidelines for non-statutory consultations for local transport projects that do not fall within Part 8 consultation requirements. [6511/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraConsultation is a critical component of project delivery, providing a mechanism to gather input from stakeholders to improve the quality of decisions. As such, effective public and stakeholder engagement is a Strategic Objective in the Department’s Statement of Strategy. Nevertheless, the depth of engagement should align with the scope and complexity of the project in order that the process remains effective, legitimate, and trusted.
Consultation is a fundamental element of the 'Part 8' planning application process under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) for developments undertaken by Local Authorities. It is mandatory that notice of the proposed development is given in the public press and that a Site Notice is erected. A period must also be given to allow for submissions or observations which are captured in a report presented to the Elected Members of the Council.
For projects that do not fall under Part 8, I am given to understand that many local authorities typically undertake consultative exercises that align or indeed surpass Part 8 requirements. These include, but are not limited to, information evenings, focus groups, letter drops, emails, presentations, videos and social media strategies. It is also important to highlight the wide scope of local transport projects that do not fall within Part 8 consultation requirements; these can range from minor works, such as a new pedestrian crossing, to multi-kilometre active travel schemes. It would be very challenging to devise guidelines that capture the breadth and complexity of projects that do not fall within consultation requirements.
Noting the above, as well as the fact that many local authorities are already in practice consulting beyond their legal requirements, it is not currently proposed that the Department of Transport would produce guidelines for non-statutory consultations for local transport projects that do not fall within Part 8 consultation requirements beyond what has already been published.
The Department is committed to public consultation and cultivating community buy-in when it comes to the implementation of transport projects. As such, we will continue to work with our agencies to ensure appropriate levels of public consultation are conducted with transparency, diligence, and professionalism.
