asked the Minister for the Environment whether he encourages local authorities, particularly the Corporations of Dublin and Cork, to instal plants to convert abandoned cars to scrap on a profitable basis; having regard to the large number of abandoned vehicles which clutter urban roadways, if he is satisfied that existing legislation is adequate to deal with the problem; and, if not, when he will introduce legislation to deal with the problem.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Abandoned Cars.
10.
It is a matter for the local authorities concerned to consider the need for, and viability of, such plant in the local circumstances. I understand that an arrangement for the conversion of abandoned cars into scrap operates in these areas in conjunction with a commercial firm.
Under the Road Traffic Acts and Regulations road authorities are empowered to remove and dispose of vehicles which have been abandoned on a public road or car park. The working of these provisions is at present being reviewed.
Under the Litter Bill which it is intended to take in the current session the powers of local authorities for dealing with vehicles which have been abandoned in other places will be considerably strengthened. The abandonment of a vehicle will be made an offence subject to a substantial fine. There will also be a duty on local authorities to make necessary and reasonable provision for places where vehicles and scrap metal may be abandoned with a view to recycling.
Will the Minister be good enough to consider tightening up the definition of abandonment to avoid the present situation under which literally thousands of cars in Dublin city have not been moved for months on end, many of which are incapable of being moved except by crane? It appears from the inactivity of the authorities and what they themselves complain of that one of the difficulties is trying to arrive at a satisfactory definition of abandonment. Would the Minister, if necessary, investigate how cities in other countries are able to avoid this farce of the public thoroughfares being obstructed for long periods by cars that cannot be moved?
I will do that. The Litter Bill proposes that it will be an offence to abandon a vehicle — that does not answer the Deputy's question — on any land, whether it be a public road, car park, private land or land such as fair greens, public parks or unclaimed sites without the consent of the owners. The maximum penalty for contravention will be £500. The local authority will be empowered to remove and dispose of vehicles abandoned on any land other than a public road or a car park. The latter vehicles will continue to be dealt with under the road traffic legislation. Probably the mind of the parliamentary draftsman has been engaged before now in defining the word "abandon", but if it can be tightened up any further in relation to abandoned cars under the Litter Bill I will do that.
I am glad the Minister emphasised that that power is in the Litter Bill and I think I heard him say that he is going to re-introduce it in this session. I urge him to bring it forward as soon as possible because I agree entirely with Deputy Ryan about the problem and the difficulty in the Dublin region and in all urban areas. Through the Whips I ask the Minister to re-introduce this Litter Bill as soon as possible.
It is ready to come in here.