asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his attention has been called to the nuisance caused to householders in Anglesea Road, Dublin, by the passage of buses belonging to the Dublin United Tramways Company (1896), Limited, along that road between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m. on their way to the Donnybrook garage; and whether he is prepared to cause steps to be taken to put an end to the nuisance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Street Noises.
I understand that complaints have been made to the Dublin United Tramways Company by residents in Anglesea Road as to the passage of buses along that thoroughfare late at night on their way to the garage at Donnybrook. I am informed that special instructions have been issued to the Tramways Company's staff to be exceptionally careful when driving through Anglesea Road and that as a result of independent checks the Gardá Síochána have found that the noise is not excessive.
I have no power to control the running of buses to or from the company's garages.
Arising out of the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary, I should like to know if he has seen a copy of the petition that was presented by practically all the residents of Anglesea Road to the Tramways Company in reference to this nuisance, and did he ascertain that buses at the rate of one per minute pass along that road between 12 o'clock, midnight, and one o'clock in the morning? In view of that, would he consider that that is a proper authorised route to be continued by the Tramways Company?
As far as I understand it, these buses must go back to their garages and I have no power to control the running of buses to garages.
But not by Anglesea Road.
I understand that I have no power to control them except where it is a question of an authorised route service.
Perhaps the Deputy could tell us whether the residents in Anglesea Road are more sensitive than the residents in Gardiner Street?
Apart from the somewhat irrelevant interruption from the Labour Benches, would the Parliamentary Secretary tell us if the Dublin Tramways Company furnished him with a copy of the letter they wrote in reply to the petition that was presented to them, in which they took the stand that the route, over which the omnibuses referred to run, is one authorised by the Department for Industry and Commerce, and that, consequently, they were entitled to run the buses?
Not when returning to the garages.
That is the case they make.
Anglesea Road is an approved route for bus services. I am not talking about bus services, but about the returning of buses to the Company's garages.
Well, presumably, the Minister has seen a copy of the letter in which they make that case. I am quoting from the second paragraph, which says: "The route over which the omnibuses referred to run is one authorised by the Department of Industry and Commerce." Consequently, it would appear that the Minister has jurisdiction to prevent an excessive number of buses running there between midnight and one o'clock in the morning over that particular route.
I have no power to control buses except in the running of the services.