Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Nelson Murray and I reassure her the Government is fully committed to providing a safe and secure transport network - Kilmessan is very much a part of this - that will help to serve the needs of all members of society. From my perspective in government, the Government's road safety strategy is the bible we used to improve road safety and make our roads safer for all. The strategy is about delivering Vision Zero, with zero deaths on our roads by 2050. It is also about ensuring, in the case raised by Senator Nelson Murray, that we have consistent and appropriate speed limits that will help improve road safety. The proposed speed limit review was undertaken by the Department of Transport in 2023. The first phase of this has had an effect. The next phase will be the change in going from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. Hopefully in urban areas and towns we will see the various classes of roads being looked at by local authorities in conjunction with various stakeholders with regard to bylaws. Meath County Council will have a role to play in having special speed limits that may differ from the default speed limits.

I would not be afraid to ask An Garda Síochána, despite Kilmessan having no Garda station, to look at the issue of technology. We have the GoSafe vans and speed cameras. Equally, Meath County Council has a critical role in setting special speed limits on roads, or on sections of roads, where it believes specific circumstances mean a speed limit that differs from the default is required. I will be happy to work with Senator Nelson Murray on this.