asked the Minister for Local Government if he will have an inquiry made into the failure of the Dublin Corporation to erect, as recommended by all the local municipal representatives, traffic lights and an island crossing at the junction of Cabra Road and Imaal Road, where frequent accidents have taken place and others have been narrowly averted and if, in view of the fact that this crossing is recognised as one of the most dangerous in the neighbourhood and is opposite one of the largest schools, thus involving great danger to schoolchildren, he will have the erection of the lights and the island expedited.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cabra Traffic Lights.
Mr. Byrne
It is understood from the Dublin Corporation that the position regarding the control of traffic at the junction referred to by the Deputy has been considered in conjunction with the Garda Commissioner and that it has been decided by the Commissioner that neither the volume nor the frequency of the traffic at the junction necessitates any special measures of the nature suggested by the Deputy.
Mr. Byrne
Will the Minister state whether the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána is more authoritative than are the local representatives? All the local representatives recommended the construction of an island and traffic lights because of the number of accidents at this point. Whose recommendation should be accepted, that of the local men who are there regularly and know the position intimately or that of a man who makes a report by counting the number of vehicles?
As I understand it, the Commissioner is legally responsible for making traffic regulations with the approval of the Minister for Local Government. I understand that the Garda Síochána Commissioner discussed this matter with corporation officials and they did not recommend that the precautions suggested by the Deputy should be taken.
Mr. Byrne
That is not the question I put. There are five local representatives on the corporation and five members of the Dáil as well, making a total of ten representatives. They recommend that it is essential that an island and traffic lights should be erected at this junction, which is very close to a school. Why should not their recommendation be accepted as the more authoritative, since they know the area very well, as compared with the recommendation of a man sent up to count the number of cars on a particular day?
Because the Commissioner is legally responsible and, as I say, because the Commissioner did not consider the volume and frequency of traffic at that particular point necessitated these precautions.
Mr. Byrne
So one man has more authority than the five members of the Dáil and the five local representatives on the corporation.
It is the law that gives him that authority.