Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
503 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the body responsible for the assessment of the risk posed to motorists by icy conditions on a motorway and for making the decision to close or not to close a motorway following that risk assessment. [1123/10]
View answerI understand that at events that attract large assemblies of people (race meetings, GAA matches) or in certain emergencies (fire, flooding or other emergencies), Section 91 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 provides members of the Garda Siochana in uniform with the power to divert, regulate and control traffic and to regulate and control parking. This can be done by oral or manual direction or by use of portable signs (of size, colour and significance as may be prescribed). A member of An Garda Síochána is given the power to prohibit the passage of traffic, indicate the direction in which traffic is to proceed, to prohibit, regulate or limit parking or places as stands for public service vehicles and generally make such prohibitions or indications which he/she considers necessary to prevent obstruction or disorder in traffic.
Whilst An Garda Síochána is given particular powers under the Road Traffic Acts to close roads in certain situations as outlined above, the decision to close any particular road would be taken in consultation with the relevant Local Authority and / or the National Roads Authority.
