Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason that the National Roads Authority is spending money on road signs at present; persons living on local roads pulling out onto national primary routes are now seeing signs directing them to their nearest town or village, which they are perfectly capable of finding without having the NRA putting up signs to direct them as to where they are to go; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17488/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply. He should inform my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.

I would however make the point that signposting is not primarily for locals, who as the Deputy acknowledges, know where they are going. Rather they exist to serve visitors to an area, who would not have such knowledge. In particular, in areas such as Kerry they are an important aid to tourists, and adequate and appropriate signposting allows them to travel independently without the stress of getting lost.