Vol. 529 No. 2
131 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he will introduce amending legislation to regulate street openings by utility companies, including telecommunications companies, and to require companies which do so to safely and promptly reinstate street surfaces. [2626/01]
Powers available under existing legislation, in particular section 101D of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, are already being used by urban road authorities to regulate the opening of roads by utilities. For example, Dublin Corporation is making extensive use of these powers through its directions for the control and management of roadworks in Dublin city.
General guidance on the need for an efficient and expeditious approach to the carrying out of road works, whether by road authorities or other statutory undertakers, is also set out in my Department's memorandum on grants for non-national roads.
A Communications (Regulation) Bill, which is currently being prepared by the Department of Public Enterprise, proposes, inter alia, to modernise legislation in relation to road openings by telecom operators. My Department is in communication with the Department of Public Enterprise with a view to ensuring that the regulatory framework which will apply to such operator companies will afford appropriate and updated powers to road authorities to regulate road openings in the public interest. I will also consider the need for wider legislative updating to deal with this important matter.
