asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the growing nuisance arising from old car bodies and vehicles generally dumped on Irish roadsides; and if he has any specific plans to abate the nuisance.
Ceisteanna—Questious. Oral Answers. - Derelict Cars.
47.
Apart from powers exercised by a local authority under the sanitary services code, existing powers to deal with this problem are contained in section 97 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961. In pursuance of that section a member of the Garda Síochána may remove a vehicle which has been abandoned on a public road. Section 63 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968, substituted a new section for section 97 which empowers me to make regulations providing for the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles which have been, or appear to have been, abandoned on a public road or in a public car park or which have been parked illegally. I propose to bring this section into operation in the very near future and will make regulations under it which will confer powers of removal, storage and disposal of abandoned vehicles on road authorities.
I am sure the Minister will agree that this situation is becoming completely chaotic because the countryside is littered with these cars. What type of legislation has he in mind? Can he further enlighten us?
I think I have given the Deputy a very clear statement in my reply. I propose to introduce regulations which will empower the local authorities to remove abandoned vehicles.