Batt O'Keeffe
Question:312 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider imposing penalties on utilities digging up roads and causing traffic congestion. [16157/96]
Written Answers. - Penalties for Traffic Congestion.
Section 101D of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (as inserted by the Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act, 1987) empowers prescribed local authorities to issue directions to statutory undertakers and others for the purposes of co-ordinating road openings and minimising traffic disruption. Such directions may specify matters such as the times at which road works are to be carried out, the period within which road works must be completed, the manner in which works are to be carried out, and requirements in relation to the control of traffic in the vicinity of road works.
In November 1992, following consultation with local authorities, regulations were made prescribing the main urban authorities — Dublin Corporation, the then Dublin County Council, Dún Laoghaire Corporation, Cork Corporation, Limerick Corporation, Waterford Corporation and Galway Corporation — as authorities which may exercise these powers. The majority of road openings by statutory undertakers occur in the areas of these authorities but the question of prescribing additional local authorities will be kept under review.