Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 571: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the situation whereby a person (details supplied) was fatally injured on the Culdaff Road, County Donegal, on 12 June 2001 as a result of a car skidding on chippings on a resurfaced road on which inadequate signs were erected, in a case in which no investigation was carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20867/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the failure of local authorities to ensure that the regulations in regard to road construction and roadworks are properly adhered to, thus avoiding resultant death, including that of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20862/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 576: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the failure of local authorities and the NRA to enforce the regulations requiring proper standards of practice in road construction and roadworks which has resulted in death and serious injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20863/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 571, 575 and 576 together.

The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in its area is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Various documents have issued to road authorities relating to road works. These include my Department's guidance document, Surface Dressing, the National Roads Authority's Specification for Road Works and the Department of Transport's Traffic Signs Manual. My Department published Guidelines on the Depth of Overlay to be Used on Rural Non-National Roads in 1999. Since then, local authorities have been regularly reminded of the need to apply surface dressing to dense bitumen macadam overlays as soon as is practicable for skid resistance purposes.

My Department has no function relating to national roads. Responsibility for national roads is a matter for the relevant road authority and the National Roads Authority, which operates under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Transport. Donegal County Council has advised my Department that the specific case referred to in Questions Nos. 575 and 571 is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings and, accordingly, while all road fatalities are greatly to be regretted, it would not be appropriate to make specific comment at this stage.