Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. It is to do with amendment Nos. 72 to 74, inclusive, and the setting of special speed limits. The Bill seems to deal mainly with national roads, TII roads, and not roads managed by local authorities directly within their areas. I see in the proposed section 55(10E) there is scope for ministerial policy direction on certain speed limits. Is there scope to be stronger on that? We have had the RSA in here. We have had many activist groups and cycling groups that are all keen to see a 30 km/h speed limit set in urban areas. That would of course assist us with active travel and also deal with the issues of noise and pollution that were just spoken about and generally make our roads a little safer and more inviting in the urban centres. Is there scope within this to be stronger in that the Minister just may, from time to time, issue a policy directive? I believe it lies with the local authorities to implement 30 km/h speed zones. We got advice recently, following committee sessions, there is no legal impediment to local authorities implementing those 30 km/h zones but that would seem to conflict with what is in the guidelines for setting speed limits. We need clarity on that.