asked the Minister for Local Government if the operation of the Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Regulations, 1963 will be kept under constant review so as to ensure that any regulations which are proved by experience to be unnecessarily stringent will be removed or eased without delay; and if he will make whatever arrangements may be necessary to receive representations from members of the public and interested bodies with regard to the amendment of the schedules to the regulations, and to effect expeditiously such amendments as may seem to him to be called for.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Speed Limits.
21.
I think that I have made it clear before that these regulations will be kept constantly under review. As to the schedules to the regulations, which in effect set out the area of application of the "built-up area speed limit" of 30 miles per hour and the "special speed limit" of 40 miles per hour, these were based on recommendations made by local technical committees who reported to me through the local authorities. I have asked the local authorities to have the working of these speed limits in their areas kept under annual review by the local technical committees, and it would be desirable if any representations of a local nature were made to these committees in the first instance; that arrangement worked very well in the past. While I would like to give the speed limits a reasonable period to operate before making changes, I do not anticipate that there will be any delay in making changes if the need for them arises.
Of course, anybody having representations of a more general nature to make is free to make them to me, and they will have my full consideration.