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Road Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Questions (889, 918)

Imelda Munster

Question:

889. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the powers or actions at his disposal regarding dangerous old suburban link roads that fail considerably when compared with modern standards such as those in the design manual for urban road and streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45128/18]

View answer

Imelda Munster

Question:

918. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to carry out a road safety audit of Hillcrest Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, in view of section 5.4.1 of the design manual for urban roads and streets (details supplied). [45370/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 889 and 918 together.

The Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) is available on my Department’s website. The Manual sets out design guidance and standards for constructing new and reconfiguring existing urban roads and streets in Ireland. It aims to end the practice of designing streets as traffic corridors and instead focuses on the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. DMURS emphasises the role of streets as social spaces, where people come first and uses practical examples from Irish cities and towns to show how these issues can be designed for and managed successfully. The transformation envisaged is not to the total exclusion of the car but is rather about achieving a better balance in how our urban roads and streets are designed and used. 

This Manual represents a major change in the design of urban roads and streets and its use is mandatory both in the design of new urban roads and street schemes as well as in instances where significant upgrades are being designed. 

Section 5.4.1 of the Manual stipulates that it is mandatory to carry out a Road Safety Audit on any permanent change to the road layout on National Roads and Transport Infrastructure Ireland has published standards in that regard. In addition, the standards are commended to roads authorities for use in preparation of their own road schemes on Regional or Local roads.

Also, my Department requires that Road Safety Audits and Road User Audits are undertaken by roads authorities (i.e. City and County Councils) on certain categories of road schemes funded or co-funded by my Department. In that regard, it should be noted that since the revision of the arrangements for the retention of Local Property Tax in 2015, the Dublin Councils no longer receive any grant assistance from my Department under the main grant categories. Consideration of whether a road safety audit should be carried out on Hillcrest Road, Sandyford would be wholly and solely a matter for Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council.

DMURS was originally launched in 2013 and is currently being updated through the inclusion of some supplementary material towards providing additional clarity. It is intended to launch the updated document, along with a dedicated website, in the near future.

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