Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Transport the obligation of his Department to prepare an audit of the appropriateness and consistency of speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5947/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will publish the new guidelines for the setting of speed limits by local authorities which was a key action under the Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012; the reason the deadline for this action which should have been published by the third quarter of 2008 was missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5825/09]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 111 together.

The Government's Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 sets out two related actions (a) to prepare and publish technical/engineering guidance for the setting of speed limits and (b) to audit and report on the appropriateness and consistency of speed limits every two years.

Work on these Actions is now in hand and in concluding that work regard will be had to Action 30 of the recently published Smarter Travel Plan to "address the twin objectives of road safety and emissions reduction through the enhanced enforcement of appropriate speed limits".

Following the metrication of speed limits in 2005, the Minister for Transport issued guidance to Local Authorities on the setting of special speed limits in accordance with Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004. These Guidelines set out principles to guide local authorities in setting special speed limits with the intention of contributing to the establishment of uniform and standard application of appropriate speed limits on a country-wide basis.

Local Authorities were requested to examine the position in relation to speed limits in their cities and counties and take whatever action they deemed appropriate. These Guidelines were revised and issued to Local Authorities again in December 2008.

I should also point out that the speed limits that may be in force on any road are maximum speed limits and driving safely means that a driver must drive at the speed that is suitable for the conditions, for example, weather, visibility and the driver's own level of experience.