Vol. 544 No. 5
109 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the recent comments made by Dublin's director of traffic claiming that the corporation has inadequate powers to control roadworks by utilities; the reason for the delay in conferring the necessary powers on the corporation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29328/01]
I have no responsibility in relation to the powers of local authorities. On the question of telecommunications, the forthcoming Communications (Regulation) Bill will contain provisions relating to access by telecommunications operators to public highways for the construction of telecommunications networks. Under the Bill, it is proposed that such operators will be required to obtain the consent of the local authority before they can open a road to lay telecommunications infrastructure in that authority's functional area. It is also proposed that a local authority will be able to make its consent subject to specific conditions enabling it to co-ordinate road openings and to require operators to share trenches and provide spare ducts for future use by other telecommunications operators.
Contrary to recent media reports, there has been no decision to postpone the Bill. I am most anxious to have the Communications (Regulation) Bill progressed as soon as possible. The current position is that Bill is with the office of the parliamentary counsel to the Government. My Department is actively pursuing the matter with the Government legislation committee in order that the Bill will be assigned due priority in the legislation programme.
