DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL (OFFICIAL REPORT) Dé Céadaoin, 17 Meán Fómhair 2014 Wednesday, 17 September 2014 Vol. 850 No. 1 Road Safety

1663. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a height that hedges and trees must be cut to when they are being cut on regional and local roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33981/14]

1664. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the body with responsibility for the cutting of hedges and trees on regional and local roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33983/14]

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1663 and 1664 together.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.

Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road and or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road. The legislation does not specify a particular height for such trees, hedges or vegetation.

This section also allows the relevant road authority to step in where a landowner fails or is unable to take action to remedy a hazard.