Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Oireachtas has only recently reduced the overall speed limits and the default limit. I have given strong powers to local authorities to look at this. I do not agree, however, that it is impractical for local authorities to look at signs on these roads. A person going out over a few weeks would resolve the ludicrous situation of roads which are clearly unfit for 100 km/h speed limits. It is possible to come off a dual carriageway with a 60 km/h speed limit on to a country road with a limit of 100 km/h.

At national level, the Oireachtas has done everything possible to overcome this. It is only recently that we set the default limit at 80 km/h. Deputy Shortall wants to reduce the limit to 60 km/h but I am not minded to go down that road yet. I would rather have full implementation of the powers the local authorities have in this issue, one they have failed to address. There has been sloppiness at local authority level and I have urged councillors to get the managers to get the issue on the agenda and resolve it for once and for all. That would be a better approach.

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