asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline Government policy with regard to the provision and design of road signs throughout the country; and whether his Department adopt any general co-ordinating role within the local authorities in this respect.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Signs.
20.
Under the terms of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, and regulations made under that Act, the Minister for the Environment controls the design, specification and use of road traffic signs by local authorities. The Garda Commissioner's consent is required to the provision of road signs in particular locations and he has the power also to require local authorities to provide signs on roads as he thinks necessary.
Within the last six months, I have approved specifications for road signs for traffic control at roadworks in urban and rural areas and for signs for tourist and amenity purposes. In relation to both sets of signs, I involved local authorities in the design process and in the case of the tourist and amenity signs Bord Fáilte were also involved.
The cost of providing road traffic signs on national routes is funded by my Department. In the case of non-national roads the cost is primarily a matter for local authorities themselves though they may, at their discretion, meet such costs from discretionary grants for non-national roads provided by my Department.
A programme for the provision of adequate directional signposting on national roads, funded by the State road grants, has been in operation since 1978 and is now virtually completed.
A programme is now being implemented in co-operation with Bord Fáilte and local authorities to upgrade signposting on non-national roads in areas of high tourist amenity.
Is the Minister aware that one of the most common complaints by tourists is about the lack of proper road signs? Will he take the matter up with Bord Fáilte to remedy this serious situation?
That has been the basis of some complaints in the past. I would like to point out that in recent times I approved sign types for tourists and amenity purposes. For the first time there is a distinctive, standard set of signs for those purposes. Bord Fáilte was fully involved in that operation and we will see a big improvement.
They have not yet been erected.
Some have, in some parts of the country, but there will be a big improvement in that area. I share the Deputy's concern that we should have good directional signs particularly in high tourist amenity areas.