Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
1163. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is responsible for the review of speed limits throughout the country under Transport Infrastructure Ireland; if local authority officials and members have been consulted as part of the process; the timeframe to complete the project and to make recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9872/16]
View answerAt the time of the issuing of the Department's updated Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland in March 2015, which is available on the Department's website at www.dttas.ie, local authorities were requested to review and update all speed limits in their administrative areas in accordance with the Guidelines. In the case of national roads this review was to be undertaken in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The Guidelines reiterate that the making of Special Speed Limit by-laws is a matter for the elected members of local authorities, subject to following Departmental Guidelines and to the consent of TII in the case of national roads.
It should be noted that as part of the review of speed limits on national roads, TII has assessed the widths of all national roads and is currently engaged in the process of providing this information to local authorities. This will assist local authorities in the task of identifying the appropriate speed limits for different sections of national roads within their respective administrative areas in accordance with the Department's Guidelines.
Local authorities have been requested to complete the overall speed limit review exercise, including the implementing of by-laws where necessary, by Quarter 2 of 2017.
