Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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What occurred to me was that there is probably a new standard or maybe a standard that is being enforced now where when you place something on a pavement, it has to be recessed back a certain distance from the kerbside. It is to allow for vehicle sweep or vehicle overhang. Previously, that standard was not there or was not enforced. Many poles will have to be replaced as part of the broadband scheme. You could end up in a situation, especially on rural roads or rural footpaths, which tend to be quite narrow historically, that the contractor is obliged to comply with the standard to recess it back from the kerbside. I have a situation up on the Enniskerry Road where the pole was placed back to the standard from the kerbside but it was right in the middle of the footpath. It made the footpath impassible for somebody in a wheelchair or with a buggy. I wonder is that something where we need to have a little crossover. That may come under roads or design. I do not know who it would come under. There should be consideration of that where poles must be replace as part of the broadband upgrade to maintain that accessibility. We see the same with utility boxes are placed as well. If there are customer connections, I presume there are some sort of footpath-mounted cabinets as well. That same consideration also applies there.

This is the second time we will have amended section 254 because we had to give the leeway for the footpath furniture and the outdoor dinning. In all that we consider, we need to maintain that full accessibility and to ensure that what we are doing to benefit one project or sector does not end up impacting on another sector in terms of access through and along the footpaths. It is merely a comment. I hope the Minister of State would take that on board. Dublin City Council issued guidance recently on the section 254 licensing of tables and chairs to ensure that the 2 m gap is left. That is something, as we go through the summer, local authorities need to monitor and, where necessary, step in and take action on.