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Road Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Questions (135)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

135. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to carry out a review of the implementation of slow zones in accordance with Jake’s Law nationwide; if data has been collected on a county-by-county basis of county speed limit reviews; if there are plans to put in place a streamlined speed limit review process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43909/21]

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Written answers

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable.  In the case of the Dublin local authorities,  these authorities largely self-finance their regional and local road maintenance and renewal grant programmes.

30 km/h and slow zone signs have been provided in 7,321 housing estates between 2015 and 2020 in local authority areas funded under my Department's Regional and Local Road Grant Programme at a cost of €5,623,840. Funding of €817,125 has been allocated by the Department for the installation of 30 km/h and slow zone signage in 2021.   

Under the Road Traffic Acts, the setting and managing of speed limits in accordance with speed limit guidelines is a matter for each local authority. Local authorities (in conjunction with TII in respect of national roads) are able to amend and set speed limits as appropriate and in accordance with the speed limit guidelines for different sections of the road network as required and adopt bye-laws under a reserved function. 

In an effort to further improve the setting of speed limits, the Road Safety Authority has been tasked with examining and reviewing the framework for the setting of speed limits including 30 km/h speed limit zones in keeping with the safe system approach being adopted by Ireland and other EU member states. In addition and in an effort to improve appropriate speed limits, my Department has developed a speed limit appeals process which would allow a formal procedure for individuals to appeal a specific speed limit to a Review Board where the speed limit is considered to be inappropriate.   This process is expected to be live in Q4 this year. 

Question No. 136 answered with Question No. 123.
Question No. 137 answered with Question No. 87.
Question No. 138 answered with Question No. 123.
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