asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the problem relating to the lanes at the rere of the houses on Shandon Crescent, Phibsboro, Dublin, which, under the Local Government Act, 1953 cannot be taken in charge by the Dublin Corporation; and if, having regard to the inconvenience and annoyance caused to the residents of Shandon Crescent, he will arrange for the amendment of this Act to enable the Dublin Corporation to take these laneways in charge.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Phibsboro (Dublin) Laneways.
14.
From inquiries made by my Department, I am aware that the problem of the lanes referred to by the Deputy is under consideration by Dublin Corporation and that the Deputy has been so informed.
I am not prepared to consider an amendment of the Local Government Act, 1953, so as to enable a road authority to take in charge for the purpose of improving and maintaining at public expense lanes which are not of general public utility.
Mr. O'Leary
Has the Minister any solution for, or have the pundits in the Minister's Department anything to say about, the residents along this laneway? What are they to do, as this is becoming a refuge for noxious debris? What does the Minister suggest that they do with this laneway?
For any such case as that, there are ample powers available to the local authority which I would hope they would invoke to ensure that no such conditions exist.
Mr. O'Leary
I think the reason the Deputy put down the question is that the local authority are not availing of these powers. Would the Minister help the Deputy in removing these obstructions in the laneway? Would he suggest to the local authority that they do their duty in regard to this laneway?
I would point out to the Deputy that we are probably at cross-purposes in that the proposed method of changing the situation in these particular instances would take in the amendment of the 1953 Local Government Act so as to enable lanes, which are not of general public utility, to be taken over and maintained at public expense. I am saying that in so far as they are being used as dumps, such Acts as the Public Health Acts and other Acts are available and should and may be invoked by the public authority. I am not referring to the Local Government Act.