THE development of Dublin's light rail system will be exempt from planning permission, according to the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Bill, 1996, published yesterday by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Lowry.
The Bill proposes that the light rail project be an exempted development from the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963.
The Bill will provide the statutory framework for the construction, maintenance and operation of the light rail system. It provides that the power to construct, maintain and operate the light rail system will be vested in CIE. This will be achieved by CIE getting a Light Rail Order from the Minister. This order will also give CIE the powers to compulsorily acquire land for the project.
CIE has to submit a draft of the order to the Minister, together with detailed plans and an environment impact statement. Affected landowners the local planning authorities and the public will he given notice of the application and will be able to make written submissions to the Minister.
Before making a decision on the Light Rail Order, Mr Lowry must arrange a public inquiry into the project.
The Minister said yesterday he planned to have the legislation enacted before the Dail's summer recess. This would allow the public inquiry to be held in the autumn and enable construction to begin early in 1997, "keeping the project on course within the timescale of the current round of EU structural funds".
The Fianna Fail spokesman, Mr Seamus Brennan, accused the Government of jeopardising the light rail plans by causing confusion at EU level.
Ms Liz O'Donnell, the Progressive Democrats TD for Dublin South, said one issue which had to be confronted urgently was the extension of the Dundrum branch to the Sandyford Industrial Estate.
