Road opening licences
Michael Moynihan asks what will be done about companies leaving public roads in poor condition after works. The Taoiseach says local authorities can require roads to be restored and can take legal action if they are not.
I refer to A Programme for a Partnership Government and the delivery of State contracts. There was also some discussion about some Government legislation in relation to State contracts in respect of EirGrid and others which give a company a contract. A road opening licence is given to the company and it proceeds with the contract but it leaves the public roads, paid for by the taxpayer, in a disgraceful state.
The residents in those communities have no redress afterwards. What is the Government going to do? Is there promised legislation? We were told at a meeting in Ballydesmond last night that there was such legislation. Is there promised legislation to ensure a bond is put in place by these companies so that if they do not fulfil the contract to the letter of the law, there is redress for the people living by these roads?
Comment on this
I am not aware if there is specific promised legislation on that. I know from my time on a local authority that where road opening licences were granted to a company the company was expected to leave the road as it found it or in a better state. When it does not do so, local authorities have recourse to the courts at that point.