asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department will consider issuing guidelines or directives or will consult with local authorities and public utility companies, such as the ESB, Bord Telecom and New Dublin Gas, with a view to reducing the frequency with which streets and roads are dug up by these companies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Street and Road Excavations.
5.
My Department are not normally involved in problems arising in respect of road openings, which are seen as matters related to the day-to-day functions of the local authority. The difficulties in Dublin have been related in the main to the large volume of work being done on upgrading the telephone system and converting the gas system.
In 1981 the Dublin Transportation Task Force, which is representative of the Departments of the Environment, Communications and Justice, the Garda and Dublin Corporation, laid down procedures for the co-ordination of road works and road openings and these are operated by the Traffic Department of Dublin Corporation. Under the aegis of the task force, a meeting took place recently involving Dublin Corporation and the statutory undertakers at which improved co-ordination arrangements were agreed with a view to minimising traffic disruption. These arrangements are now in place and will be kept under review.
Section 40 of the Dublin Transport Authority Bill, which is awaiting Committee Stage in the Dáil, when enacted, will give the authority power to issue directions to statutory undertakers and local authorities as to the period during which, the times at which, and the manner in which road works may be carried out. In using this power, the authority will have to have regard to the need to co-ordinate the execution of road works, the necessity to minimise traffic disruption, the urgency of the road works and the extra cost, if any imposed by the direction. In view of the improved co-ordination arrangements and pending the enactment of the Bill and the bringing into force of the new legislative provisions, I would consider it inappropriate to issue any guidelines on the question of road openings. I can, however, assure the Deputy that I will keep this issue under regular review and will take appropriate action if I consider it warranted.