Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I understand that speed limits are required on housing estates from a road safety perspective. I would like to clarify whether they will be imposed by way of by-law. The arrangements for by-laws can be convoluted and until they are introduced in a composite way, they can delay the introduction of new proposals. This can be clumsy. For example, significant advertising must be undertaken. There is a complex regime surrounding by-laws. Will the Minister comment on that?

It is important that we do not give the impression that the imposition of the proposed speed limits will be automatic because there would then be an expectation that they will apply to every housing estate. People will be disappointed if that does not happen. The proposal lets designers off the hook. Gardaí cannot be deployed in every location to enforce speed limits and, therefore, roads have to be designed to a particular standard. There must be self-enforcing measures, particularly when designing new housing estates, which will achieve the proposed speed limits in order that we do not make the same mistakes again. Good design means that the motorist cannot see and must slow down on particular bends, for example. It is important that there should be dialogue between the Department and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to make sure a standard is built into the design of housing estates to achieve speed limits without enforcement. Will the Minister indicate how they will be applied?

If it is intended to reduce speed limits and, at some point in the future, revert to the original speed limit, does the Bill permit that? How that would happen?