asked the Minister for Local Government if he is satisfied that there is a sufficient sense of urgency on the part of Dublin County Council in the pursuit of negotiations with the ESB which commenced in March, 1963, on the provision of better public lighting on Cromwellsfort Road; whether his Department has at any time been consulted in the matter; and if having regard to the considerable risk of personal injury and damage to property on that busy traffic artery, steps will now be taken by the county council to do the work itself independent of the ESB.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lighting of Dublin Road.
15.
I am informed by the county council that they consider that the provision of better lighting on this road is desirable and have proposals under consideration. They have to take account, however, of costs and other factors, including their own technical resources.
I would remind the Deputy that the county council are the road authority and the public lighting authority for this road, and in relation to a particular scheme such as this, it is essential, if the principles of local government are to be preserved, that representations should be made to them and not to the Minister. My function is to assist and encourage local authorities to execute the works for which they have legal responsibility. In regard to public lighting I have discharged this by making grants available from the Road Fund and by initiating the examination of the whole question of public lighting which, as I have indicated in reply to a separate question, An Foras Forbartha have undertaken.
Would the Minister say whether in fact his Department were at any time consulted since March, 1963 when this matter was supposed to have commenced?
Not that I know of.
Does the Minister think it reasonable that two august bodies should take from March, 1963 until now to process negotiations for the improvement of lighting on a public road when Dublin Corporation have, in the meantime, been able to improve the standard of lighting on every road leading into this road? The lighting of this main arterial roadway is left in this state because of the incompetence of the officials of Dublin County Council and the ESB. They are bogged down in procedural nonsense instead of improving the lighting on this road.
The Deputy may wish to convey his remarks to some member of Dublin County Council. The county council have this matter under consideration and Foras Forbartha have proposals——
Four years doing nothing.
——for the improvement of the lighting here under consideration.
How many people live in this particular house?
The Deputy is on the wrong question.
Am I too early?
I will tell the Deputy when we come to it.