Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the fact that there was not a long lead-in to the adoption of the metric signage system. [1492/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In order to reflect the scope and complexity of the overall metrication process a significant lead-in period was a feature of the planning for the introduction of metric speed limits on 20 January 2005. A working group carried out a review of speed limit structures and policies from February 2003 to September 2003 against the backdrop of the proposed changeover to the use of metric units of kilometres per hour. The group's report and recommendations were published on the Department's website in early October 2003. The Government decided in February 2004 to proceed with the metrication of speed limits and published the Road Traffic Bill 2004 on 11 June last to provide a legal basis for this policy. The passage of this Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas took place in the period between 3 November and 15 December 2004 and it was signed into law by the President on 22 December 2004.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry, SIMI, was represented on the working group and subsequently played an active role on the metrication changeover board that was established to oversee and co-ordinate the implementation of the metrication project country-wide. The technical requirements for speedometer equipment is set down in EU type-approval Directive 75/443/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/39/EC. It is a requirement for the registration and entry into service of new vehicles that their speedometers are type-approved in accordance with Directive 75/443/EEC, as amended. The legal advice available to me is that, under EU single market rules, it is not open to a member state to prohibit the entry into service of motor vehicles on grounds relating to their speedometers where these devices are type-approved in accordance with Directive 75/443/EEC, as amended. We are therefore precluded from insisting that new vehicles entering into service in this State from January 2005 must have metric only, or metric-dominant, speedometers.

SIMI has played a key role in achieving that almost all new vehicles for sale are now fitted with metric only or metric-dominant speedometers.

A particularly successful element of the overall metrication process was the level of consultation with the authorities in Northern Ireland. The metrication changeover board liaised with the authorities in Northern Ireland throughout 2004 and into January 2005 in relation to the introduction of metric speed limits in this jurisdiction. The discussions focused on road safety and, in particular, the provision of traffic signs at Border crossings and initiatives for a public information and awareness campaign in each jurisdiction.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in issuing guidelines to local authorities regarding the setting of 30 kph speed limits; and when he will do so. [1493/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The relevant provisions of the Road Traffic Act 2004 that provide the legislative basis for a new basis for a new system of speed limits based on metric values were commenced with effect from 20 January 2004. Section 9 of the Act relates to the making of speed limit by-laws by the elected members of county and city councils and also provided that the Minister for Transport may issue guidelines relating to the making of special speed limit by-laws.

With the commencement of the provisions in the Road Traffic Act 2004 relating to speed limits generally with effect from 20 January 2005 and the completion of the programme for the provision of the traffic signs necessary to support the actual changeover, county and city councils are now free to embark on the process of making new speed special speed limit by-laws. In support of such process, a draft of new guidelines to assist the local authorities is being finalised and forwarded to county and city councils, the National Roads Authority, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Garda Síochána for their views. The Department will shortly commence a consultation process with local authorities during which their views on the draft by-laws will be sought. Following the completion of that process, I will issue statutory guidelines in the coming weeks to the local authorities on a formal basis.