asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the widespread inconvenience caused to the public as a result of the operation of large articulated lorries on suburban roads, particularly in the Dun Laoghaire Borough area; and if he will place some form of restriction on their operation pending the construction of adequate roads.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Articulated Lorries.
8.
I am conscious that problems may be created by the operation of large articulated lorries on certain roads, particularly where port traffic is involved. Powers are available under the Road Traffic Acts for the control and regulation of traffic and parking of vehicles of any class. These powers are normally exercised by the Garda Commissioner by means of bye-laws made by him after consultation with the road authority. In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to initiate restrictions on traffic on particular roads.
Improvement works on the roads referred to by the Deputy are, of course, a matter for decision and execution by the local authority.
Has the Minister or the Garda or the local authority— because all three appear to have some say in it—the right to exclude articulated trucks from any area like Blackrock which is a very dangerous bottleneck? Are we committed to any EEC regulation in that regard? For instance, if the great juggernauts come along, do we have to allow them to go through? Could we restrict them to a particular time such as early morning, or the middle of the night, or low peak traffic periods? Have we any authority in relation to this kind of thing?
Under section 89 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, the Commissioner of the Garda, after consultation with the local authority concerned may, with the Minister's consent, make bye-laws specifying the courses to be taken by vehicles of any class on public roads, prohibiting or restricting vehicles from entering any specified public road, requiring vehicles to proceed in a specified direction only, and prohibiting the passage through any specified public road of any article exceeding a specified length or breadth. Control is exercised by signs. The question of providing an additional regulatory sign relating to commercial vehicles is under consideration.
Can the local authority initiate a request to the Commissioner of the Garda, or is he the only one who can initiate a regulation which would prohibit these people going in at a particular time or going in at all?
The section says that the Commissioner after consultation with the local authority may make bye-laws. I presume both sides can consider the matter.