Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 October 2015
354. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the problem of motorists speeding in housing estates; his plans to tackle this problem to protect vulnerable road users, particularly children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36966/15]
View answerWhile my Department is responsible for the legislative basis and supporting guidelines in regard to traffic matters, implementation of traffic management measures is the responsibility of the relevant local road authority.
Circular RSD 1/2014 on the Control of Vehicle Speeds in Housing Estates was issued by my Department to local authorities in October last year. That Circular highlighted existing national guidelines and measures available to local authorities and it proposed new measures to reduce speed limits in housing estates and residential areas. In addition, my Department issued new 'Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland ' to all local authorities earlier this year which also addressed the issue of speed limits on residential roads.
Among the initiatives covered by these guidelines was an increased emphasis on the use by local authorities of the special speed limit of 30 km/h in housing areas and the associated introduction of new signage in this regard. A sum of €2 million was provided in Budget 2015 in dedicated funding to support the proposed signage programme on public roads throughout the country and further funding will be allocated to local authorities in 2016 to support this programme.
If any further measures, including engineering measures, are deemed necessary to reduce speeds in residential areas, it is a matter for local authorities to assess what actions can best deliver such safety improvements. The latest Speed Limit Guidelines give detailed advice in this regard.
