The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006, which has been passed in the Senate, will have a final stage debate on Tuesday.

The bill will see the creation of a one-stop shop, the Strategic Planning Division within An Bord Pleanala.

This department will decide on planning applications for proposed developments of strategic importance to national and regional development.

As a result, major infrastructure projects will now by-pass local council involvement and go directly to the specialised department in An Bord Pleanala for approval.

According to Martin Whelan, Head of Public Affairs, Construction Industry Federation, the legislation is a positive and long overdue measure. "We have had huge problems in terms of delivering planning in general, so any measure that speeds up this process is positive and to be welcomed."

However, the bill has come under serious criticisms from environmental groups and the Irish Planning Institute.

In particular, those against the legislation are sceptical that it will stem delays and argue that the bill will reduce local input in the planning process.

"This bill will result in a blink and you will miss it approach to public involvement, " said Ciaran Cuffe of the Green Party. "Traditionally, the public had two bites of the cherry in relation to participation in the planning process, now they will only have one opportunity to make their views known."

According to Cuffe, this bill is an attack on local democracy, "it will do little or nothing to speed up the planning process. The main planning delays to major projects are due to High Court challenges and poor quality applications in the first instance."

Many experts, including the Irish Planning Institute, agree with this view.

They believe that one of the main outcomes of the introduction of this legislation will be the increased number of planning decisions being decided in the High Court.

Most worrying of all according to Cuffe is the potential that under the current wording of the bill it may be possible for completely private projects to slip in the back door and go through the "Strategic" route.

"The Bill will allow controversial developments such as gas refineries, port land reclamation and incinerators to bypass local government. The views of local authority staff, councillors and the public will be sidelined, " Cuffe added.