Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 337: To ask the Minister for Transport when he intends to circulate the guidelines on special speed limits to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8980/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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With the commencement of the provisions in the Road Traffic Act 2004 relating to speed limits with effect from 20 January 2005 and the completion of the programme for the provision of the traffic signs necessary to support the metrication changeover, county and city councils are now free to embark on the process of making new special speed limit by-laws.

Section 9 of the 2004 Act sets out a new process for the making of speed limit by-laws by the elected members of county and city councils, following the changeover to metric speed limits. The range of options available to county and city councils in relation to the deployment of special speed limits has been expanded under the 2004 Act. It also provides that the Minister for Transport may issue guidelines relating to the making of special speed limit by-laws.

Draft guidelines to assist the local authorities were forwarded to representatives of the County and City Managers' Association, the National Roads Authority, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Garda Síochána for their views. In addition, my Department engaged in a consultation process with county and city councils on the draft guidelines. That process has been completed and the guidelines have been amended to reflect the views submitted to my Department.

I will formally issue the statutory guidelines to the local authorities shortly.