Brendan Griffin
Question:155. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport when the next speed limit review will be carried out on regional non-national roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30519/23]
View answerTuesday, 27 June 2023
Questions (155)
Written answers
As part of Action 6 of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy a review is underway to examine the framework for setting of speed limits in Ireland including specific consideration of the introduction of a 30km/h default speed limit in urban areas. As part of the work of the group an assessment was carried out on the existing framework of speed limits including the current guidance document for the ‘Setting and Managing of Speed Limits in Ireland’, best practice internationally as well as an analysis of potential options. This review is now nearing completion and I intend to publish the completed review in the near future. Thereafter an implementation plan will be prepared to progress the recommendations of the review including as a priority updating the Guidelines for Setting and Managing of Speed Limits in Ireland. The Road Traffic Act of 2004 sets out the current legislative basis for the setting of speed limits. The Act applies ‘default’ speed limits to different categories of road and also allows for local authorities to intervene and set ‘special speed limits’ on roads in their area. Local authorities have the discretion to decide on varying these limits through ‘Special Speed Limit’ bye-laws for roads within their administrative area. Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, as amended, sets out the range of Special Speed Limits that may be applied through bye-laws. The current special speed limits are 120km/h, 100km/h, 80 km/h, 60km/h, 50km/h, 40km/h, 30km/h and 20km/h. The making of such bye-laws is a reserved function of the elected members of the council. On foot of the Speed Limit Review in 2013 and the subsequent publication of the ‘Guidelines for Managing Speed Limits in Ireland’ in 2015, local authorities are required to review Speed Limits within their administrative area every 5 years.