Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received a response from each city and county manager in relation to his request that they report on their usage of their powers to review and determine the speed limit which should apply at particular locations on non-national roads in lieu of a default speed limit; the main findings arising from their response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20399/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received reports on inappropriate speed limits in any of the past three years; if he will provide details of such reports; the findings and recommendations of each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20418/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Transport if an additional review of speed limits is currently being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20432/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 418 and 421 together.

Default speed limits apply automatically under the Road Traffic Act 2004 to the different classes of public roads. The review of the application of these default speed limits at any particular location and the determination of what speed limit should apply at that location in lieu of a default speed limit is a matter for the elected members of city and county councils. The making of special speed limit by-laws to give effect to speed limit changes is subject to compliance with specified consent and consultation processes and the Guidelines that I issued in April 2005 in relation to the application of special speed limits.

The AA and SIMI sent reports to my Department in 2004 of complaints received by those bodies of locations where the complainants perceived the speed limit to be inappropriate. Details of the complaints received, locations in question and suggested amendments were set out in full in the reply given to Parliamentary Questions No. 166, 167 and 168 that were taken together on 12 May 2004. I have not received any formal reports on inappropriate speed limits in the format of findings and recommendations that the Deputy is referring to.

Copies of the complaints furnished by the AA and SIMI and the suggestions therein for changes to speed limits were forwarded by my Department to the local authority managers concerned. A response was subsequently received setting out the position of the statutory authority in relation to each location that was the subject of complaint. I will forward details of these to the Deputy for information.

The carrying out of a review of speed limits that apply on the public road network to assess if a special speed limit should be applied in lieu of a default speed limit at any location or if an existing special speed limit should be revised and the timing of this task is a matter for each of the 34 road authorities in respect of their own administrative area. I have no role in the matter.

The majority of 34 local authorities have indicated since February 2006 that they already have a review of speed limits — this covers national and non-national roads — in progress at present with a view to making new special speed limit by-laws under the Road Traffic Act 2004. The remaining authorities have indicated that a review of the current speed limits is planned to commence later in 2006.