John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to set standard guidelines for speed limits on local and regional roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17961/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Default speed limits that apply to defined categories of roads are established under the Road Traffic Act 2004 For local and regional roads, the default speed limit is set at 80 kilometres per hour. This can only be changed on a permanent basis by county and city councils through the making of special speed limit bye-laws. Section 9 of the 2004 Act sets out the range of special speed limits that may be applied by local authorities through bye-laws. Following the metrication of speed limits in 2005, guidance issued to Local Authorities from the then Minister on the setting of these special speed limits. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide advice and guidance to Local Authorities in relation to the making of special speed limit bye-laws by county and city councils. These Guidelines set out principles to guide local authorities in setting speed limits with the intention of contributing to the establishment of uniform and standard application of appropriate speed limits on a country-wide basis. Revised Guidelines issued to Local Authorities in December 2008.

The legislation underpinning both the default speed limits and the range of special speed limits is kept under review by my Department on an ongoing basis.

The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 sets out two related actions (a) to prepare and publish technical/engineering guidance for the setting of speed limits generally and (b) for local authorities to audit and report on the appropriateness and consistency of speed limits every two years. Work on these actions is now in hand within my Department.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent he directly or in consort with his EU colleagues has evaluated the impact of the grounding of aircraft arising from emissions from the Icelandic volcanic eruption; the degree of emissions and of ash from the volcano in question on a weekly basis since the initial eruption; if issues have been identified as to the way that an island nation unilaterally or in conjunction with the EU can deal with such a crisis without jeopardising safety requirements and at the same time meet in some part the travel requirements of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17904/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my response to Priority Question No. 41 of today.