Vol. 405 No. 4
105 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the procedure in towns and cities in relation to underground roadway activity such as the laying of cables by Telecom Éireann and the ESB, or pipeline services by local authorities or by An Bord Gáis; if he has satisfied himself that the current procedures satisfy the minimum level of disruption to road users; and if he has any proposals to change the procedures to minimise disruption.
Statutory undertakers such as ESB, Telecom Éireann and Bord Gáis have statutory powers to open public roads for the purpose of laying and maintaining cables, pipelines etc. and do not require a licence from a local authority to do so.
Section 101D of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (as inserted by the Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act, 1987) enables prescribed local authorities to issue directions to statutory undertakers and others for the purposes of co-ordinating road openings and minimising traffic disruption. In September 1988 I made regulations prescribing Dublin Corporation, Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire Corporation as authorities who could exercise these directive powers. Arrangements are also in place in Dublin to ensure the advance notification of planned works to enable them to be co-ordinated as far as possible.
The forthcoming roads Bill will update and strengthen the powers of local authorities to temporarily close roads to facilitate works such as those referred to and other activities.
