Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like my colleagues, I welcome the Bill. One aspect of it that I wish to discuss is the provision relating to road safety measures and speed limits, as the previous speaker has discussed. I come from a council background and I understand the origin of this provision in Jake's law. I have read a great deal about it. We were seeking to have the 20 kp/h limit established in residential areas. However, the establishment of it and working with the council, which is something the Minister might examine, is quite cumbersome.

The installation of traffic calming measures such as speed ramps, roundabouts and chicanes is quite difficult for local authorities due to low manpower, costs and so forth. It took us more than 18 months to introduce traffic calming in four housing estates in Portumna. It is still not properly introduced. In certain estates we sought to have speed ramps installed. Councils are quite wary about introducing speed ramps because of liability. If water lodges on one side of the ramp and causes flooding or if it freezes there is a liability involved. People appear to walk away from it when, in fact, we should be considering the health and safety of the residents living in the area. The 20 kp/h is incredibly welcome in the estates in which it has been introduced and has gone a long way towards addressing the issue, but it has not gone the extra distance to address the health and safety issue and the comfort of parents in the homes. They are looking for speed ramps or chicanes, something to slow traffic down. They are not saying they need them all over the estate but definitely at the entrance or even half way through it, to ensure that drivers are aware that children are at play.

I should thank the Minister because Deputy Cannon announced this evening that a traffic calming measure will be installed on the N65 in Portumna. It is something I have canvassed the Minister about for the last number of months and it is welcome. However, the 20 kp/h speed limit must also be established near schools and crèches, not just in estates. We must look at the areas that are densely populated by young people, because they are the people who need protection and their parents need comforting. On a wet morning outside schools one sees people driving up as closely as possible to the school. We need signage and ramps and the speed limits to be reduced. I differ with one of the Deputies who said earlier that the council enforces this. The Garda enforces all of this. That is the reason it must be made law. The Garda cannot do anything until the law is passed. Its hands are tied. One can ring the gardaí as many times as one wishes, but there is nothing for them to enforce. The quicker it is introduced, the better.

Where are we going in the context of unfinished estates? Many have not been taken in charge. Have we a plan for such estates? For every one that is taken in charge, there is another that is not. It is a significant problem because council staff do not come down the front road of unfinished estates at all. The estates are populated and the residents are very worried. In an unfinished estate, one cannot even get a 20 km/h speed limit sign put up. Is there any way we can consider the position regarding unfinished estates across the board, particularly we are examining health and safety? For what it is worth, the section of the Bill on speed limits is fantastic but it will only serve half the community if it does not account for the people in unfinished estates.

We must consider the location of nursing homes and facilities for the aged and those with disabilities. Bearing built-up residential areas in mind, have the councils the manpower to deliver what we desire? Perhaps it is better if it comes from a Department, Transport Infrastructure Ireland or another body that could assist the councils with delivery. I fear this could left to sit for a long period. However, there are people who have been seeking for it to be addressed for quite some time. There are people living on stretches of roads where motorists drive far too quickly. I refer to the outskirts of towns where developments have taken place. Motorists drive at 80 km/h through these areas although there are people living on either side of the road. This is not acceptable.

I hope that when the legislation is passed, there will be funding for the delivery of the signs and the implementation of traffic-calming measures. It would be useful if we could work with local councils on delivery to the estates that have not been taken in charge. Then we would have heeded Jake's law, which was the real requirement at the very beginning, and there would be very many happy parents.

I suggest that if we are introducing traffic-calming infrastructure in estates, it does not have to be set in stone. One can buy a rumble strip for €175 and have it installed. It can be taken up again. It is not about preventing people from entering an estate but about getting them to slow down and change their approach.

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