asked the Minister for the Environment whether the traffic plan for Bandon, County Cork, can be adopted without prior ministerial approval of Cork city and county traffic and parking by-laws; and in this event if he will state (a) when the by-laws were lodged for approval and (b) when he expects to approve and sign them.
Written Answers. - Bandon (Cork) Traffic Plan.
The draft by-laws in question were submitted by the Garda Commissioner for ministerial approval on 24 June 1981. Because of their importance as a model for similar by-laws being developed around the country and to ensure their full effectiveness, they have been the subject of a detailed examination, involving the Attorney General's Office, the Garda and my Department. This is nearly finalised and I hope to be in a position soon to approve of the Cork by-laws.
Preparing, adopting and implementing a traffic plan is for the road authority concerned and Cork County Council have not been in touch with my Department about a traffic plan for Bandon. Some elements, however, of any such plan would seem bound to relate to controls appropriate to traffic and parking by-laws. Other features would be independent of such by-laws.