Vol. 378 No. 9
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider providing funds this year for Dublin Corporation to enable the completion of desirable works of bollarding and ramping roads in the Ballyfermot area, Dublin 10, so as to minimise traffic flows through residential estates and eliminate so-called joyriding of stolen cars through these estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
117.
asked the Minister for the Environment the reasons for the delay in making regulations providing for the provisions of ramps and bollards on public roads as provided for the Dublin Transportation Authority Act; whether these regulations will issue in the near future; if so, if he will outline the general terms of the proposed regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am taking Questions Nos. 113 and 117 together.
On 2 March 1988 I made regulations enabling bollards and ramps to be provided on public roads. The regulations were made under the Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act, 1987, which came into force on 1 January 1988. A corresponding power contained in the Dublin Transport Authority Act, 1986, involved cumbersome procedures and was limited to Dublin. There has been no undue delay in making the regulations.
Under the new procedures, a road authority must give public notice in a prescribed manner of proposals to provide or remove bollards and ramps in its functional area. An opportunity is afforded to any objectors of having their objections considered by the authority. The authority must also consult with the Garda. The final decision to provide or remove bollards or ramps is a function reserved to the local elected representatives.
The regulations specify the procedures to be followed by road authorities in publishing both their proposals and decisions. The schedules to the regulations also lay down requirements which authorities must comply with in relation to the construction, design and positioning of bollards and ramps. In addition, classes of roads where bollards and ramps cannot be provided are specified.
I have also sanctioned the use of new traffic signs to be provided by road authorities to advise road users generally where bollards or ramps have been provided.
Local authorities may, at their discretion, finance the provision of bollards and ramps by way of the block grant for roads which is paid annually by my Department to supplement expenditure from their own resources. In the case of Dublin Corporation, the block grant for roads allocated for 1988 is £2.654 million.
