Vol. 504 No. 1
69 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to respond to the concerns expressed by the Irish Hotels Federation which has stated the need for a national co-ordinated strategy with specific location guidelines to ensure uniformity in signage from county to county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10963/99]
My Department has published the traffic signs manual (1996) as a comprehensive guide to the provision of road signage in Ireland. It prescribes the design of all road signs and the standards required to ensure that road users are given messages clearly and in good time. Use of the manual is intended over time to lead to greater uniformity of practice and to the creation of a more consistent approach to signing generally.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) has been co-ordinating the signage and delineation of the national roads network. In 1995, the NRA embarked on a major programme of improvement to directional signing and lining throughout the network of national primary roads. Expenditure on the programme up to the end of 1998 is almost £10 million and a further £4 million is being provided this year. At this stage the improvement programme for national primary routes has been completed and work has commenced on national secondary roads, with a view to completion by end 2002.
Individual road authorities are directly responsible for the provision, maintenance and funding of signposting and roadway markings on non-national roads, either through their own resources and/or through discretionary grants made available by my Department. Approximately £23 million has been allocated to county councils in discretionary grants this year, while the discretionary block grant allocation to urban authorities is £9.750 million. My Department wrote to all road authorities in August 1998 reminding them of the need to bring signage up to the standards set out in the traffic signs manual as soon as possible.
