30.—(1) An authorised person may, subject to the provisions of this section, enter on any land at all reasonable times between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. for any purpose connected with this Act.

(2) An authorised person entering on land under this section may do thereon all things reasonably necessary for the purpose for which the entry is made and, in particular, may survey, make plans, take levels, make extractions, and examine the depth and nature of the subsoil.

(3) In a case in which any entry is proposed under this subsection if the occupier (in the case of occupied land) or the owner (in the case of unoccupied land) refuses to permit the entry—

(a) the entry shall not be effected unless it has been authorised by an order of the justice of the District Court having jurisdiction in the District Court district in which the land or part of the land is situate and, in the case of occupied land, save after at least twenty-four hours notice of the intended entry, and of the object thereof, has been given to the occupier, and

(b) an application for such an order shall be made on notice (in the case of occupied land) to the occupier or (in the case of unoccupied land) to the owner.

(4) A person shall not, by act or omission, obstruct an authorised person in the lawful exercise of the powers conferred by this section.

(5) In this section—

“authorised person” means a person who is appointed by the local authority, the Tribunal or the Minister to be an authorised person for the purposes of this section.