Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a road traffic and speed survey on a portion of the N25, details supplied, will be considered. [37710/18]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister consider the undertaking a road traffic and speedy survey on a portion of the N25 from Kilmeaden to Carrolls Cross?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank Deputy Butler for her question. As stated in response to questions from other Deputies, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in for the national roads programme but I will be as helpful as I can within that context.

Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for the relevant road authority in relation to local and regional roads or for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned in relation to national roads. Consequently, the TII and the local authorities have responsibility for signs and road markings in accordance with the traffic signs manual, TSM, which is issued under my direction as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The TSM sets out the standards for signing and road markings to be used on all roads in the country.

With regard to the specific question raised by the Deputy, I understand from the TII, the N25 route was remarked under the national road delineation programme in 2015. Road markings on each road route are designed from end to end by a contracted competent team in accordance with the TSM. Any non-compliant markings or markings that do not accord with the provisions of the manual are removed as part of the remarking contract.

Proposals regarding safety improvement works are matters which are normally developed in the first instance by the relevant local authority, in this case Waterford City and County Council. For the TII to consider fully any such proposals relating to national roads, the local authority is required to carry out an analysis of the collision history at the location and design an appropriate scheme to deal with any safety issues identified. In addition, the local authority is required to carry out an economic appraisal of the proposal, cost the scheme fully, prepare a feasibility report, and prioritise the scheme relative to other works proposed by the local authority.

There are no specific road markings or arrows for so-called turn-offs for residential access. All junctions are marked in accordance with the provisions of the TSM, as I have just outlined.

Ultimately, the aim is to have consistency of approach across the country and it is the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with the TII with regard to national roads, to ensure that the appropriate standards, as set out in the TSM, are adhered to. Adhering to a consistent approach to road signs and markings delivers better safety results.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply, which explains the problem. The road concerned is the N25, which is the main road from Waterford to Cork, which services traffic exiting from Rosslare Port.

The traffic is naturally fast as the vehicles have just exited the motorway. The Minister has rightly said that the delineation was carried out in 2015. Unfortunately the delineation was very good in parts but not as good in others. The Minister said they will not put in markings in residential areas, however the problem is that people exit the motorway two miles up the road on the right hand side. There are eight houses on the road, called Kilmoyemoge East, which leads onto another road that has 100 houses. There is a great deal of traffic, including school buses, and residents are deeply concerned that there will be a serious accident. It is a simple thing to seek line markings on a road for safety.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Deputy becomes more convincing the more I listen to her. Her point is a good one. The matter she is raising is one of road safety, which I had not understood from the question. If the Deputy wishes to make representations on this matter, it would be best that she do so to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, to seek its response. It has a particular interest in this and has funding available for road safety black spots. When they address issues of this sort for special treatment they look at the collision record in this area. The TII is always especially sympathetic when road safety issues are raised, particularly when concerns that there are dangers on a particular stretch of road are evidence-based. She should suggest that to them.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I will make representations to the TII. I reiterate that the main reason for the residents' concern is that other road exits, whether lanes or secondary roads, have markings and they cannot understand why their roadway should have no markings. Every time they indicate to turn right, they are very concerned that they will be rear ended because of the speed of traffic exiting the motorway.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I cannot get involved in this directly, however the Deputy has made a very good case for this and I suggest that she provides a full record of what has happened on that road, particularly accidents, to make a convincing case and I will refer it to the TII. Road safety must be the top priority. TII spending on black spots is one of the ingredients in the road safety war. I will recommend that it put this on its list for examination and do so soon.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Mick Wallace is next. We have only six minutes left so I suggest that he has 30 seconds for his question and we may have two supplementary questions.