Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his continued support for these measures. We appreciate it.

Unlicensed street furniture is an issue in places. I am aware of it. To answer his question directly, the Roads Act allows the local authorities to remove material on the public road, or indeed the pathway, that is unlicensed. That requires resources - to speak to the last point the Deputy made - to have the capacity to do so. We have engaged with our local authorities. We have over the past year, as he will see, provided further posts, especially in the housing area. There are approximately 350 right across the country. We are working through the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and County and City Management Association, CCMA, to see what further resources will be required in this space. It is kind of acute in our own city of Dublin, Cork, Galway, though it has a better tradition of pedestrianisation, and others. We are engaging. I am particularly conscious of DCC because much has happened very quickly. We discussed this with officials as well and are engaging through the CCMA and LGMA, with DCC and any other local authority that feels it needs further assistance in this space by way of resources. I assure the committee and the Deputy that any reasonable request for additional resources in this space will be met positively.