Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Transport the plans he has to bring in legislation to make it compulsory for lorries to have mudguards in place, for the benefit of other motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27147/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Legislation already exists in regard to this matter. In accordance with Article 22 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 lorries are required to be equipped with wings or other similar devices to catch mud or water thrown up by the rotation of the wheels unless adequate protection is afforded by the body of the vehicle.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Transport the steps that are being taken in regard to persons who are using spotlights and headlights on their vehicles that are not within regulation size and strength; the contact that has been made with the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána or the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in this regard; the plans that are in place to control their usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27148/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The fitting and use of lights on motor vehicles are governed by the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 1996, which, inter alia, prohibit the fitting of lamps, including headlamps and spotlamps, to vehicles that are capable of dazzling or misleading other traffic when they are lit.

Specifically, the regulations provide that all lamps showing a light to the front of a vehicle must be fitted with a dipping device so that the beam of light from the lamp, when dipped, is incapable of dazzling a person more than 25 ft. away from the lamp and in a specified position, which approximates to that of the driver of an oncoming vehicle. Dipped headlamps must be used when a vehicle is either passing another vehicle or travelling close behind one. Within this framework, a maximum power rating or size are not specified for vehicle headlamps or spotlamps.

Checks on lamp aim alignment and condition are carried out as part of both the NCT and the commercial vehicle testing scheme. Enforcement of road traffic law, including the provisions relating to lights on vehicles, is the responsibility of the Garda Síochána. I intend to send a copy of this reply to both the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner for information.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Transport his Department's policy and that of the National Roads Authority regarding speed limits outside a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a much lower speed limit is necessary to allow the introduction of a junior warden scheme; the measures which will be taken to have the speed limit reduced to 50 km/h; if there are current national guidelines in place; the responsibility and input the local authority have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27160/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in reply to Question No. 219 on 27 April last, since the passage of the Road Traffic Act 1994 the power to apply special speed limits has been vested in the elected members of county councils and city councils through the making of special speed limit by-laws. Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets out a new process for the making of speed limit by-laws by the elected members and expands the range of options available to county and city councils in regard to the deployment of special speed limits.

A legislative provision to provide for the application of a special speed limit to operate during specific periods of the day such as when school children are entering or leaving a school premises became operative on 20 January 2005. I issued guidelines on the application of special speed limits to the county and city managers last April pursuant to the 2004 Act. Copies of the document were placed in the Oireachtas Library at the time and the guidelines are also available on my Department's website, www.transport.ie, under roads/publications.

Local authorities are required to have regard to these guidelines when applying special speed limits and in the case of applying the 30 km/h special speed limit that is provided for in the 2004 Act, it may only be pursued in accordance with provisions in these guidelines.

Decisions as to whether or not to apply a special speed limit at a particular location or to apply a special speed limit that is operative on a periodic basis are matters that fall to be determined by the local authority having complied with consultation and consent processes required under the 2004 Act. The decision as to whether or not to deploy a school warden service at any particular location is also a local matter that falls to be determined by the local authority.