Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Transport
Period
1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025
Specific Details
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) objections to Planning
Intended results
To point out that while IFA acknowledges the responsibility carried by TII and its staff IFA is uncomfortable with the apparent inconsistencies in some of the answers around when TII decides to appeal on planning and when it decides not to appeal.
To show concern that there does not appear to be any clear criteria to determine when TII decides to lodge an appeal and when it decides not to do so.
That lodging appeals against one off houses, where the local authority has already granted permission is excessive, particularly in cases where the house may be using an existing entrance.
That TII are obligated to provide comments to local authorities in respect of planning applications that have entrances onto national or secondary roads. However, it is our view that it is not appropriate for TII to take it further by then appealing the granting of an application by the local authority unless it is an exceptional case where considerable amounts of extra traffic are going to be generated by the development of a business or the building of a large housing development.
To request that TII provide us with data on the number of appeals lodged in the last three years and the number where you decided not to appeal.
To seek clarity on the decision-making process in TII is for making such decisions and what level of oversight there is over the process. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to make it clear that we are not focussing on any individual's decision, it is the process that we are interested in.
To highlight that the implications for the private citizen are huge should TII decide to take it upon itself to appeal. From reading some of the appeals lodged, the issues raised are very general and could apply to almost any development coming onto a national or secondary road.
That there does not appear to be any consideration given to the traffic impact of a dwelling not being built.
To highlight that IFA members are often seeking to build on or near their farm which often facilitates off road access to the farmyard. They often need to visit their farms frequently, and at night, during calving or lambing and building on the farm wood reduce overall traffic in many cases.
That, while we have noted the commitment in the ‘Programme for Government' to look at this issue, we see no reason why TII should not publish their criteria on the issue as a matter of urgency. In the interim, we would appreciate if you could provide a copy of this criteria to IFA.
To ask that TII consider revising the criteria and to make a policy decision not to appeal local authority decisions where only one dwelling is involved.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Rachel Moloney IFA Policy Executive
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Darragh O'Brien
Minister (Department of Transport)
James Browne
Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)
Martin Heydon
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Peter Walsh
Chief Executive Officer (Transport Infrastructure Ireland)
Sean Canney
Minister of State (Department of Transport)