Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 144: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the rights and needs of children have been considered in terms of traffic law; his plans to introduce home zone or play street legislation as is operated in countries such as Holland whereby pedestrians enjoy the full use of the road, and a motorist entering such a street must drive at a walking speed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27652/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Consideration regarding the use of our public roads by all vulnerable road users, including children, is given when providing for road traffic legislation. In that context, road authorities are empowered by Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act, 1994, in consultation with the Garda Commissioner and in the interest of the safety and convenience of road users, to provide traffic calming measures or low speed zones on public roads. In the case of national roads, such measures may not be provided without the consent of the National Roads Authority.

In implementing traffic calming measures or low speed zones on public roads in areas deemed appropriate by local authorities, reference must be made to the "Guidelines for the Application of Special Speed Limits" as issued by my Department to all local authorities on 18 April 2005 pursuant to section 9(9) of the Road Traffic Act 2004. It should be noted that the lowest maximum speed limit that can be applied under the Road Traffic Acts in this country is a special speed limit of 30 km/h and the making of speed limit bye-laws is a reserved function of the local authority. This special speed limit needs to be self-enforcing through use of traffic calming and engineering measures, such as those utilised in 'home zone' areas.