Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2022
36. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport the reason that road markings (details supplied) which are painted on the public roads and in public housing estates in the Gaeltacht areas in County Donegal cannot be written in Irish given that Donegal County Council has indicated that it cannot do this due to a Departmental directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3705/22]
View answerRoad markings/symbols such as STOP and YIELD are internationally recognised and are generally accompanied by road signs. It is important for road safety that all traffic, including international traffic, understand the regulatory signage and road markings as displayed, to adequately warn and inform the driver of potential hazards ahead. Regulatory signs are prescribed by the Minister for Transport. The principal regulations are the Road Traffic (Signs) regulations 1997 and the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997. The regulations specify the types of signs which must be used by Road Authorities when providing road traffic regulatory signs and there must be strict compliance with the form and content of these signs.
In relation to regulatory road markings written in the Irish language in Gaeltacht areas, it is accepted that the word STOP exists in both English and Irish languages and therefore is not necessary to alternate. Regarding YIELD, the traffic signs manual does provide for the Irish variant, Géill Slí, to be used as appropriate, in place of the word YIELD on the traffic sign. The YIELD symbol is to be used on road markings.
