asked the Minister for Local Government why the 30 miles per hour speed limit sign was removed from Lackagh, Turloughmore, County Galway; and if he will consider having it restored.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Speed Limit.
25.
Revised speed limits for County Galway were introduced earlier this year as part of a nationwide review of speed limits. The decision to remove the speed limit at Lackagh was taken following a Departmental inspection of the village and on the recommendation of the local technical committee. It is not considered that Lackagh is a builtup area or that a speed limit is warranted there on grounds of population, traffic volumes or accidents.
I am satisfied that the revised limits now applicable in County Galway represent a reasonable compromise between the desire of every community for a speed limit and the need to apply limits where they are most likely to be effective.
Is the Minister aware that since the 30 mile speed limit was removed from Lackagh there has been a death there due to the fact that it was removed? There is a Catholic church there and also a school and I have been approached by the people of Lackagh to ask the Minister for Local Government to restore the 30 mile speed limit. It is necessary.
I will have the matter re-examined but this decision was taken after the recommendation of the local technical committee. There is obviously no point in having speed limits all over the country where they are not likely to be effective.
Is the Minister aware that a child of three or four years of age was killed there since the speed limit was removed?
I assume that this is so. I was not aware of it but it does not follow that that is due to the absence of a speed limit.