asked the Minister for the Environment if he will accede to a request from Dublin Corporation to institute standardised signs for children at play in view of the present proliferation of different versions of such signs through the city undermining their effectiveness and in view of the fact that many residents' associations stand willing to contribute to the cost of production and erection of these signs.
Written Answers. - Road Traffic Signs.
529.
In January 1984 Dublin Corporation consulted with my Department on the question of the use of a "caution children" type traffic sign instead of the prescribed "Children Sign" (yellow diamond shaped sign showing a black silhouette of two school children) which was primarily designed for and almost exclusively associated with school or playground locations. The corporation was advised that in November 1979 the Department authorised Dublin County Council to use the former type of sign on an experimental basis. The authorisation was, however, conditional on the submission by the council of a report in due course on the effectiveness of this sign in order that a decision might be taken as to whether such a sign should be authorised on a permanent basis.
In December 1984 the council submitted a report to the Department indicating that no evidence could be adduced from traffic accident statistics that the signs were effective or otherwise. However, it was the council's view that the absence of a suitable authorised sign to indicate the danger of young children crossing roads in residential areas had led to a proliferation of misleading and unauthorised signs and that the authorisation of a standard sign would be of benefit in facilitating the removal of such signs.
Because of the council's report, the Department is consulting with the Garda authorities and An Foras Forbartha on the desirability of authorising the use by road authorities generally of a standard sign to warn drivers of the presence of children in residential areas.