Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 3

Written Answers. - Traffic Management.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

118 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport the basis on which he requested Dublin City Council to remove new signage erected as part of new traffic management plans for the Dublin area; if it is intended to compensate the City Council for the additional costs incurred as a result of his intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18248/02]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

The provision of road traffic signs is a matter for each road authority under section 95 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961. That section provides that all traffic signs must be in accordance with traffic signs regulations in the case of all regulatory signs or, in accordance with directions under section 95 (16) of that Act in respect of all other traffic signs. The current parameters set for local authorities for the provision of traffic signs can be found by reference to the Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations of 1997 and 1998 and the traffic signs manual published in December 1996, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Dublin City Council's proposed orbital route directional signs were not consistent in terms of sign design, content and colour coding with the relevant provisions of the traffic signs manual. The maintenance of consistency and uniformity of traffic signs generally is particularly important from a road safety perspective and given the attempts at international level to ensure that colour combinations in signs are reserved for particular purposes. At a meeting between senior officials from my Department and the Dublin City Council on 27 August 2002, the city council accepted that its proposed orbital signage system did not comply with the relevant statutory provisions. However we agreed that the concept that underpins orbital signage for Dublin has merit and should be advanced. Accordingly, my Department is currently engaged in a consultative process with the city council, the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the National Roads Authority for the purpose of determining appropriate criteria for the develop ment of such a system of signage. If the city council's new proposals require to be supported by amendments to the traffic signs regulations or the traffic signs manual, I will give positive consideration to such amendments.

The cost of the provision of road signs is a matter for each road authority. I understand that the programme for the provision of the orbital signage system was at an early stage of development and that the Dublin City Council had not engaged in any significant level of expenditure. The city council's initial step involved the manufacture and installation of only 10% of the total number of the new signs that would be required. It is not proposed that my Department would meet the cost of the removal of these signs.