Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As part of action 6 of the Government’s road safety strategy, a review is under way to examine the framework for setting speed limits, including specific consideration of the introduction of a 30 km/h default speed limit in urban areas. The group was established in late 2021 and comprised representatives of the Department of Transport, NTA, TII, local authorities, the RSA and An Garda Síochána. The review group, as part of its work, carried out an assessment of the existing framework of speed limits, including the current guidance document for the setting and managing of speed limits in Ireland. The group also looked at best practice internationally as well as carrying out a modelling analysis of potential options. This review is now nearing completion and I intend to publish the completed review in the near future, with an implementation plan thereafter. This will be prepared to progress the recommendations of the review.

As a priority, the guidelines for managing speed limits in Ireland will be updated. Although the review is driven by road safety, it is also guided by requirements in relation to climate change and active travel.

The Road Traffic Act of 2004, as amended, sets out the current legislative basis for the setting of speed limits. The Act applies default speed limits to different classes or categories of road and allows for local authorities to intervene and set special speed limits, within limitations, on roads in their area. The making of by-laws to set special speed limits is a reserved function of the elected members of a local authority. In Ireland, urban speed limits are set through a combination of default speed limits that apply to built-up areas which are all cities and former town councils and by special speed limits for other urban areas as defined in the guidelines for managing speed limits in Ireland. Currently, the default speed limit for built-up areas is 50 km/h. While I obviously cannot announce the outcome of the review until it concludes, I appreciate that the Deputy has raised the issue today.

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