Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will not press the amendment on the basis that the Minister has included the 20 km/h speed limit but it needs to be enacted and there is an onus on every local authority that has requests for the 20 km/h speed limit in housing estates and residential areas to implement it.

It is not only speed signage that needs to go up in estates. In fairness, this is where the Department is lacking in funding of local authorities for road safety measures. A sign itself is not enough. We need resources for the traffic corps to ensure that those who speed are caught and punished for it. We also need funding to provide ramps, chicanes and other such safety measures within residential areas. The fact the Minister has included the 20 km/h speed limit and that local authorities can now implement it certainly is progress.

I recognise that defining a housing estate could be problematic. The Minister gave the example of there being no clarity around five houses on a dual carriageway.

Certainly, the fact that it is there is a significant step forward for the campaigners. The onus is on the Minister to ensure that when requests are made, the local authorities need to implement those or it will come straight back.

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