Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2019
559. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review speed limits here in view of the levels of death and serious injury on Irish roads to date in 2019; the legislation which would have to be reviewed in such a review of speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11624/19]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. For regional and local roads it is a matter for each respective local authority.
The Road Traffic Act 2004 establishes default speed limits that apply to defined categories of roads and which can only be changed by county and city councils through the making of special speed limit by-laws, and Section 9 of that Act sets out the range of special speed limits that may be set by local authorities through such by-laws. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide advice and guidance in relation to the making of speed limit by-laws by county and city councils for the purpose of applying special speed limits. Transport Infrastructure Ireland and all local authorities commenced a comprehensive review and update of speed limits in their administrative areas in accordance with the latest 2015 guidelines and for which a significant amount of local authorities have completed the required process to date.
