Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2020
10. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands if she will consider introducing a code of standardisation of road and pathway signage that must be used by community groups and local residents associations in view of the many different signs and sign designs across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24438/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBefore I start, I wish to thank the member of staff who chased me down the corridor this morning to return money that had fallen out of my pocket. I am sure they thought they could do with it far more than me but I would like to acknowledge their honesty and integrity.
Will the Minister of State consider introducing a code of standardisation of road and pathway signage to be used by community and resident groups in view of the many different signs that are appearing across our country?
It is somewhat out of my remit but I understand that groups, such as residents associations which wish to erect signage in their local areas, are generally referred to the roads section of their local authority, so the Deputy might get more joy out of them. That section will ensure such signage is in keeping with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport traffic signals manual. This manual provides details on the traffic signs which may be used on roads in Ireland, including their layout and symbols, the circumstances in which each sign may be used and the rules for positioning them. Responsibility for the manual rests within the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Separately, and this is closer to our Department, Sport Ireland has developed a criteria document for walking trails in Ireland which, among other things, gives guidance on the standard of waymarking signage along walking trails. My Department administers the walks scheme, which facilitates the development and maintenance of many of Ireland's key walking trails, by contracting landowners to undertake maintenance work on those trails in line with agreed work plans.
The programme for Government includes a commitment to expand the walks scheme to achieve a target of 80 trails, compared with 39 at the beginning of 2019. This is in recognition of the value of outdoor recreation amenities to support individual and community well-being. Amenities such as walking trails and other outdoor recreation infrastructure have seen a huge increase in usage during Covid-19 and are highly valued by communities in both rural and urban areas.
To go back to the nub of the question, it is ultimately a question for the local authority. In terms of the guidance they are being given and are provided with in regard to the issue raised, it is a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. There is not a huge amount I can say on that. I have plenty of information here on the walks scheme, if the Deputy wants to hear more about that.
I thank the Minister of State. The tenor of the question was wider than that remit. What I was driving at was more about re-imagining rural Ireland and trying to look at more homogenous signage that would describe the character and the charm of our rural places. In terms of community development, particularly in terms of the town renewal schemes and so on, where the Department is giving out money, it would be great if the Department was advocating that more traditional signage would be used. We could drive through parts of England and parts of rural Ireland at the moment and we would not see much difference, which is a shame. We are losing part of our tourism charm and potential but I think we can arrest that with clever initiatives. That is really where I was going. I am thinking in terms of my own constituency, in particular areas such as the Blackwater Valley and the Waterford greenway, and we have a new Celtic corridor being imagined there. I would like to see the signage and waypoints standardised so that when people are in the area, they can see that as being reflective of the journey, the charm and the culture of where they are.
I take the Deputy’s point, which is a good one. I will pass this back to the other Department but only because that is where it is best put. There is a point to be made in regard to eyesores, over-signage, unnecessary signage and old signage that does not really tell us anything anymore. There is also the issue that if people are driving through rural Ireland, they will pass so many places that are of value and interest, and we just do not know it. I will contact my colleague who looks after the heritage side and I would encourage the Deputy to contact the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
If the Department were to look at specific funding initiatives that would emphasise the idea of using a more rural and more traditional type of signage to give character and to keep the little bit of character we have left in our rural areas, and to try and build on that, it would be a very good initiative.
I will pass that on to the other Department.
