Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is reviewing the current level of speed limits on Irish primary and non-national roads; his views on whether there should be a review of the speed limits in residential estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4528/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In 2012, I announced that a review of speed limits would be undertaken and to that end, my Department established a stakeholder group to progress this work. The Automobile Association, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, the National Roads Authority, representatives of local authorities and the National Transport Authority accepted my invitation to participate in the Working Group, which has met on a number of occasions since its formation.

As the Deputy will appreciate, this is a very complex issue which requires detailed consideration as it involves a broad review of general speed limits, along with the specific limits in place on certain roads. I anticipate that the Group will report to me shortly, and I will give careful consideration to any recommendations contained in their Report. Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act, 2004, allows road authorities to make bye-laws which allow the application of special speed limits on public roads within in their administrative areas. To assist in setting special speed limits, my Department issued Guidelines for the Application of Special Speed Limits to all local authorities in January 2011 and the onus is on local authorities to take them into account in relation to any special speed limits which they set.