Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Local Authority Regulations.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

720 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will bring forward legislation to allow for the charging by local authorities of statutory undertakers, particularly telecom operators, to ensure compliance and enforcement of the local authority regulations and expeditious completion of work. [21917/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):

Powers available under existing legislation, in particular section 101D of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, are 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 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 utilities and statutory bodies working group, chaired by the Dublin Transportation Office, or DTO, was established this year. The aim of the working group is to standardise the approach to roadworks through agreed codes of practice. It is composed of representatives from various bodies and agencies currently involved in telecom munications network roll-out including the Office of the Director of Communications, the DTO, the Departments of Public Enterprise and Environment and Local Government, urban and rural local authorities, IBEC, Forfás, the National Roads Authority and Eircom.

A Bill to regulate communications being prepared by the Department of Public Enterprise will propose,inter alia, to modernise legislation in relation to road openings by telecom operators. This Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government following approval of the general scheme of the Bill earlier this year. My Department is in communication with the Department of Public Enterprise to ensure that the regulatory framework to apply to such operators will afford appropriate and updated powers to road authorities to regulate road openings in the public interest, while recognising the benefits of further investment in telecommunications infrastructure. I am also considering a wider legislative updating to deal with this important matter.

Question No. 721 answered with Question No. 662.