Vol. 495 No. 7
501 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to regularise and rationalise the use of underground street space by public and private utilities and to place it on a more commercial basis whereby finite space attracts an annual rent and a charge for access payable to the local authority. [21378/98]
Under the Road Traffic (Co-ordination of Roadworks) Regulations, 1992 the Dublin local authorities and the county boroughs of Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway have wide powers to co-ordinate and control road openings by both public and private utilities to minimise the frequency and duration of road openings; to co-ordinate works to minimise traffic disruption and hazard to road users; and to ensure that roads are permanently reinstated as quickly as possible.
While there is no immediate proposal for further legislation in this area, the concept of lane rental is being examined by the National Roads Authority in connection with urban road works contracts. Similar arrangements for the control of other operations involving occupation of road space may arise for consideration in due course.
