To most of us who are road users and pedestrians in Dublin 15 it is a common sight to see clusters of Cars and Vans close by roundabouts and major road junctions being offered for sale.

Acting on representations made to Joan’s collegue Cllr. Michael O’ Donovan, by residents of Dublin 15 to have these illegal road side sales ended. Cllr O’Donovan presented a motion to last Thursday’s, Dublin 15 Area Council meeting where he asked Fingal County Manager David O’Connor
“That the Manager, make use of Section 71 of the Roads Act 1993 to deal with car left on the roadside or at roundabouts, (sometimes with for sale signs)”

In reply David O’ Connor said, Section 71 of the Roads Act 1993 deals with the placing of unauthorised signs, caravans, vehicles etc. placed on a public road and used for the purpose of advertising, the for sale of goods, the provision services or other similar purposes. The Act provides for the removal, storage, and disposal of the vehicles by the Gardai.

He further added that, there are a number of roundabouts in the Dublin 15 area where vehicles are being offered for sale and this activity appears to be on the increase in recent weeks. Having regard to the fact that the Gardai are the Traffic Authority and have powers to deal with illegal parking on roads, footpaths and grass verges it is proposed to arrange to meet with the Gardai in Blanchardstown to discuss possible measures which can be put in place jointly by Fingal Council and the Gardai to combat this practice.

Cllr O’Donovan said that local authorities in other parts of the country had successfully introduced schemes which have put a stop to this illegal practice and that he welcomed this announcement by Fingal County Manager David O’ Connor who proposed to meet with Blanchardstown Gardai to discuss this matter.