COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 09, 2020

QUESTION NO. 7

QUESTION: Councillor K. Mahon

Can the Chief Executive please detail the process by which utility boxes are installed around the County? What role does the council play in the process and what liaisons are there between utility providers and the Council in advance of installation? 

 REPLY:

Utility boxes hold valuable equipment that is required to maintain / monitor various essential utilities in the area, including but not limited to traffic-light control mechanisms, air quality monitoring, cable and phone connections, streetlight equipment, electric transformers etc. Some of these utility boxes are owned by the Council, others by external / third party utility providers.

South Dublin County Council's Traffic Section has an input into the installation of its own utility cabinets i.e. traffic controllers, automatic traffic counters, CCTV cabinets etc., the locations for which are chosen as part of the design process.  The criteria include availability of public realm, non-obstruction of footpaths, cycle track, purpose of installation, suitability for maintenance purposes (e.g. a traffic signal controller should be sited so that all of the junction is visible from the cabinet location).

The availability of power supplies and the existence of services will also have a major impact upon the location choice.

The Council's Public Lighting Section has responsibility for the installation of its own public lighting supply pillars.   The locations for these are also chosen as part of the design process.  The criteria include availability of public realm, proximity to the most local ESB supply point, non-obstruction of footpaths, cycle tracks etc. Suitability for maintenance purposes (e.g. ease of access) and possible overcrowding of existing underground utilities  will also have a major impact upon the location.

The Council liaises with external utility companies regarding the suitability of locations for utility boxes, following receipt of an application for road opening licence.   This licence is mandatory and when granted allows the holder to excavate a section of public road i.e. carriageway/footway and associated grass verge. 

These locations are generally bound by the existing network eg cable location and site suitability.