COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 13, 2024

QUESTION NO.18

QUESTION: Councillor S. Moynihan

To ask the Chief Executive to clarify the responsibility for public safety when traffic management companies (TTM) are using unsafe work practices at construction sites.

REPLY:

Ultimately SDCC is responsible for the safe and efficient management of the regional and local public road network in our County.  Transport Infrastructure Ireland are ultimately responsible for the safe and efficient management of the National Road network.  Both these bodies have protocols in place for the management of traffic at construction sites.

Dealing with SDCC Road network:

If the works to the road are being carried out by a third party contractor (ie ESBN, Broadband companies etc....) then the responsibility for the site where the works are being carried rests with that contractor. They are responsible for the safe management of the site. 

To secure consent to carry out works on the road, a contractor must secure a road opening licence consent which will included various permissions and conditions. If the contractor is breaching their granted consents, for example they do not have an adequate construction management plan in operation then SDCC would visit the contractor and ensure future compliance with the granted construction management plan conditions. Persistent non-compliance would trigger planning enforcement action.

If construction companies are undertaking work on the Public road adjacent to the construction site, they have to apply to South Dublin County Council for a Road Opening licence.  In the granted road opening licence, South Dublin County Council would impose conditions in relation to maintaining safety for vehicles using and passing the construction site.  Also, safe pedestrian routes must be maintained passed the site.

If the contractor was not adhering to the conditions imposed in the road opening licence, SDCC would insist that all conditions being in compliance with the granted licence. In cases of persistent  non-compliance, SDCC would revoke the contractors licence to work on the Public Road.

Therefore, South Dublin County Council, the contractor and their agents have responsibilities to be discharged in relation to traffic safety around construction sites.