Road Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (257)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

257. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will carry out a review of the blanket application of the speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour in place on all regional and local roads; if there are plans to transfer the power to reduce speed limits on particular sections of non-national roads to the local authority in order to make roads safer near residential and commercial areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31337/21]

Written answers

Minister for Transport

The setting and managing of speed limits are a reserved function of members of local authorities and a matter for each local authority and queries regarding specific road(s) should be raised with the local authority in the first instance.

However, for your information I refer you to the Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland, published by my Department in 2015 which you can view on www.speedlimits.ie. It should be noted that 80 km/h is a National Speed Limit for Regional and Local Roads, and that alterations to these limits can be introduced by way of bye-laws by elected members of Local Authorities.

The Department of Transport is responsible for the enabling legislation around the setting of speed limits. However, it is Local Authorities that set speed limits for roads within their jurisdictions in accordance with Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (as amended).