Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2012
502. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if there are any plans for a standard 30kph speed limit within town and village boundaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40218/12]
View answerEarlier this year, I announced that a review of speed limits would be undertaken and to that end, my Department established a stakeholder group to progress this work. The Automobile Association, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, the National Roads Authority, representatives of local authorities and the National Transport Authority accepted my invitation to participate in the Working Group, which has met on a number of occasions since its formation.
As the Deputy will appreciate, this is a very complex issue which requires detailed consideration as it involves a broad review of general speed limits, along with the specific limits in place on certain roads. I anticipate that the Group will report to me by year's end, and I will give careful consideration to any recommendations contained in their Report. In the meantime, I have no plans to implement a standard 30 KPH speed limit within village and town boundaries.
The Deputy may be aware that Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act, 2004, allows road authorities to make bye-laws which allow the application of special speed limits on public roads within in their administrative areas. To assist in setting special speed limits, my Department issued Guidelines for the Application of Special Speed Limits to all local authorities in January 2011 and the onus is on local authorities to take them into account in relation to any special speed limits set.
