Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. On the speed limits first, the principal recommendation in urban areas is 30 km/h, as I have said, and that is for urban centres, but there are exceptions to that. There is 50 km/h for key arterial routes. These are public transport routes, for example, or roads that would be better engineered than one within a residential area. That is set out in detail in the speed limit review and the guidance will set that out. It is 60 km/h on transition zones in urban areas, which would be better understood by engineers. Again, that is striking a balance. Where there are urban arterial roads which have a higher design and are better engineered, and where there are key public transport routes, they will be an exception to the overall default speed limit.

Within urban areas, the default speed limits are about setting a better and safer baseline and then revising it upwards within the wider network, where there are arterial roads and where it makes sense to do so. There are also pedestrian and shared space zones in highly urbanised areas where, if you read the speed limit review, it is recommended at 20 km/h. Regarding pedestrianised streets, some of them are at 20 km/h but there is a lot of uncertainty over the actual limits of some. I know there are school zones where there are shared spaces. They are quite limited in different urban areas but need to be managed in a much safer way. It introduces those in a strategic way. If you read the principle recommendations of the report, it sets out the exceptions and then the various standards that will be required, for example, for an arterial road, key public transport routes and so on.

On the 186 actions, many of them have commenced this year and we will send the committee an update on them. To give a sense of it, we have sought to prioritise a number of key actions this year. Regarding the Leas-Chathaoirleach's point on technology, we are strengthening the technological piece with the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána in the provision of GoSafe vans. We have also worked with Transport Infrastructure Ireland on how we can broaden the technological offering we have.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach also referred to the M7 and the Dublin Port tunnel in the context of average speed cameras. That is a key area to improve targeted enforcement. Technology within vehicles will play a more important role in the coming years but, obviously, there are different vehicles with different standards and technological capabilities. In future, there will be far more prudence in the context of technological integration within vehicles, but that will be a wider European framework in terms of its overall adoption. As I informed Senator Doherty, we have work ongoing in the actions to examine the trend in driver attitudes and behaviour, particularly post Covid. That is being assessed and evidence is being gathered.

Penalties is another area of reform. We are addressing this in the legislation. In the context of those who drive vehicles for work, we are trying to progress a trial on an alcohol ignition interlock device. Again, that involves integration of technology. There is work ongoing between the Health and Safety Authority, the RSA and An Garda Síochána on that trial.

We are reviewing the driver testing curriculum. It has not been reviewed for 35 years and is totally out of sync with the modern driving experience. I have tried to progress that as a priority, with €2 million to be spent on reviewing the curriculum. The point was made to me recently that drivers are not allowed on a motorway before doing the test but once they drive out of the test centre having passed the test, they are allowed to go on a motorway for the first time. That is totally out of sync with what it needs to be. Reforming the curriculum will play a key role for the future. That will be progressed. The speed limit review is one of the other recommendations.

That is a flavour of some of the priority actions we have taken this year. A significant amount of other work has commenced and progressed as well and I will get my officials and the team to send the committee information in that regard.

I have addressed the questions on technology-----