Under the Road Traffic Acts, a Special Speed Limit may, as in the case detailed above, include a periodic speed limit which can be designed to apply and operate outside schools at specified periods, for example when children are arriving at, or leaving a school during term time.
Statutory responsibility for the making of Special Speed Limit bye-laws is a matter for the elected members of local authorities, in this case Galway County Council, subject to the consent of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in the case of national roads.
To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed Limits, my Department's Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland provide detailed guidance on the application of Special Speed Limits outside of schools and is available to all local authorities.
As such, my Department would not receive applications from local authorities to extend speed limits. The matter referred to would be dealt with directly by Galway County Council in consultation with TII.