David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the quality of signposting in the State; his plans to encourage and support an improvement in signposting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9540/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The legislative framework for the provision of traffic signs is set out in section 95 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1968 and section 37 of the Road Traffic Act 1994.

The Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations 1997 to 2005 prescribe regulatory traffic signs, which include upright signs, road markings, traffic lights, and other devices which may be provided on roads by road authorities, to indicate the existence of a road regulation, to implement such a regulation, or to indicate the existence of a provision in an enactment relating to road traffic.

Responsibility for the provision, positioning and maintenance of all traffic signs on non-national roads, which include regulatory signs and road markings, warning and information signs, is a matter for individual road authorities. Responsibility for funding the provision and maintenance of traffic signs on the national roads network is a matter for the National Roads Authority.

The traffic signs manual 1996 sets out directions given to road authorities by the Minister for Transport pursuant to section 95(16) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 regarding the provision and use of warning and information traffic signs including directional information signs. A copy of the manual is available in the Oireachtas Library.

My Department is currently pursuing a comprehensive review of the present traffic signs manual in association with the National Roads Authority and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Consultants have been engaged to prepare a new manual. It is intended that the use of the manual by road authorities will ensure a high quality of signposting in the State through uniformity of practice and the creation of a consistent approach to signing generally.