asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will give the reasons for the re-excavation of Middle Abbey Street, Dublin soon after a new surface was laid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Street Excavation.
45.
I understand from Dublin Corporation, who are the responsible authority, that the excavation referred to was the removal of the extensions to the footpath in Middle Abbey Street, at its junction with Lower O'Connell Street, which were provided in 1964 to narrow the crossing for pedestrians, following the introduction of a one-way street system in the area. Temporary removal of these extensions was necessary to facilitate traffic during the execution of urgent necessary repairs at Bachelor's Walk, following a burst in a watermain. It was necessary to close Bachelor's Walk during the execution of the repairs and to re-open Middle Abbey Street to two-way traffic during the closure. Accordingly, the full width of Middle Abbey Street at the junction of Lower O'Connell Street was required for traffic as a result of this arrangement.
Would the Minister not think that a little forward planning would save the ratepayers and others concerned a great deal of money from the point of view of the many hundreds of pounds spent on reopening an area which had already been surfaced? Does the Minister not think forward planning would avoid expenditure of this nature.
This question of forward planning would be a matter for Dublin Corporation, not for the Department of Local Government.
The Minister is constantly talking about cutting down expenditure. Here was a case in which a bit of forward planning would have saved many thousands of pounds.
Yes, and the Deputy is constantly trying to pretend that Dublin Corporation does not exist. But it does.