Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 882: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has reviewed a report from a Dublin City Council senior engineer (details supplied) entitled, Traffic Calming Models: Environmental Traffic Cells and Homezones; his views on a national policy on the development on the development of homezones to target excessive speeding in residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33381/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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"Home Zones" are residential streets in which the road space is shared between drivers and other users and where the wider needs of residents, particularly pedestrians, cyclists and children are emphasised in the design. In these cases, low traffic speeds allow a sense of place to be prioritised over movement. In this context, I am aware of recent discussions at Dublin City Council's Transportation and Traffic Strategic Policy Committee on Environmental Traffic Cells and Home Zones.

The importance of street design in supporting and encouraging sustainable travel patterns in urban areas is recognised in the Smarter Travel policy under the theme of aligning spatial planning and transport.

It is worth noting that a national urban design guidance document (Irish Manual for Streets) is currently being drafted and will be jointly issued by the Department of Transport and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Manual will outline practical design measures to support and encourage more sustainable travel patterns in urban areas including residential areas. Design issues under consideration for the Manual include appropriate design speeds. The broader issue of shared space will also be considered in the Manual.

Responsibility for setting speed limits rests with local authorities.