Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act, 2001

PART 3

Railway Orders

Surveys and inspections.

36.—(1) The Agency or CIÉ may authorise in writing persons to be authorised persons for the purposes of this Part.

(2) An authorised person may, on production of his or her authorisation together with an appropriate form of identification if so requested by any person affected, for the purposes of this Part enter on any land and—

(a) inspect and survey the land and make any inquiry, investigation or examination for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the land is suitable for the purposes of the construction of a railway,

(b) carry out any investigation or examination thereon preliminary or incidental to the purposes aforesaid,

(c) bring thereon such other persons or equipment as he or she may reasonably consider necessary for the purposes of his or her functions under this section,

(d) line sight, drill, bore, probe or excavate, or take such samples and carry out such tests as he or she reasonably considers necessary or expedient for the purposes of such functions,

(e) if authorised by the Agency, inspect and survey the land and make any inquiry, investigation or examination for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the land is suitable for the purposes of fulfilling any of the related functions of the Agency.

(3) An authorised person shall not, other than with the consent of the occupier, enter a private dwelling unless he or she has obtained a warrant from the District Court under subsection (4) authorising such entry.

(4) Where an authorised person is refused entry to any land, the Agency or CIÉ, as the case may be, may apply to a judge of the District Court assigned to the district court district in which the land is situated for a warrant authorising such entry, and upon the hearing of the application the judge shall, if satisfied that such entry is necessary or expedient, by warrant authorise such entry, on production of the warrant, if so requested.

(5) Whenever an authorised person exercises any of the functions conferred on him or her by subsection (2), the Agency or CIÉ, as the case may be, shall be liable to make good all damage done to the land entered upon or interfered with by the exercise of such functions and to pay compensation in respect of any loss arising out of or in the course of the performance of the functions of an authorised person under this section, and, if there is a failure to do so, any person affected by the damage or loss shall be entitled to compensation in respect thereof and such compensation shall be recoverable from the Agency or CIÉ, as the case may be, in default of agreement, in any court of competent jurisdiction.