Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Road Openings.

Ivor Callely

Question:

84 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself with the quality of the reinstatement of streets, roads and footpaths when licensed contractors have completed their work; if he has sought the views of the director of traffic of Dublin Corporation concerning this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26289/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy):

Ensuring the quality of work carried out on streets, roads and footpaths by licensed contractors is primarily a matter for road authorities. Powers available under existing legislation, in particular section 101D of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, are already being used by urban road authorities to regulate the opening of roads by utilities. For example, Dublin Corporation is making extensive use of these powers through its directions for the control and management of roadworks in Dublin city.

General guidance on the need for an efficient and expeditious approach to the carrying out of works, whether by road authorities or other statutory undertakers, is also set out in my Department's memorandum on grants for non-national roads.

A utilities and statutory bodies work group, chaired by the Dublin Transportation Office, was established this year. The aim of the working group is to standardise the approach to roadworks through agreed codes of practice. The group is composed of representatives from various bodies and agencies currently involved in telecommunications network roll-out, including the Office of the Director of Communications, the DTO, the Departments of Public Enterprise and the Environment and Local Government, urban and rural local authorities, IBEC, Forfás, the National Roads Authority and Eircom. The director of traffic in Dublin Corporation is a member of the work group.

A Communications (Regulation) Bill prepared by the Department of Public Enterprise, proposes, inter alia, to modernise legislation in relation to road openings by telecom operators. This Bill is currently being drafted by the office of the parliamentary counsel to the Government following approval of the general scheme of the Bill by the Government earlier this year.

My Department is in communication with the Department of Public Enterprise with a view to ensuring that the regulatory framework which will apply to such operators will afford appropriate and updated powers to road authorities to regulate road openings by such operators in the public interest while recognising the benefits of further investment in telecommunications infrastructure. I am also considering a wider legislative updating to deal with this important matter.