Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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469. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the speed limits that apply to residential areas that have not yet been taken in charge by the relevant local authority; if there are mechanisms in place to modify these speed limits using local by-laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46924/14]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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470. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the recently announced pilot programme for the reduction of speed limits to 30 km/hr in residential areas applies to all residential areas and estates in a local authority area, including those that have not yet been taken in charge by the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46927/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 470 together.  

In mid-October last, my Department issued a Circular to all local authorities requesting them to undertake a review of speed limits in housing estates so that they and the Elected Members could decide if the existing speed limits in such estates are appropriate to ensure a safe environment, particularly for children. This initiative is aimed at dealing with excessive speeds in residential areas which poses a serious danger to vulnerable road users within housing estates such as cyclists and pedestrians and especially children at play. An increased use of a 30km/h speed limit and other associated measures in such areas can go a long way to addressing this problem.  

Among the recommendations contained in the Circular to local authorities is that the latter should, as part of the measures to improve safety, go through the process of adopting bye-laws for the 30km/h limit for the selected estates. As the Deputy may be aware, 30km/h is a special speed limit and statutory responsibility for setting such limit in respect of any specific road is vested in local authorities under section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 and requires a public consultation process followed by a decision by the Elected Members. In order to go through this process, the Circular makes clear that it will be necessary, where relevant, for the housing estate to be taken in charge.  

The taking in charge of housing estate roads by local authorities is provided for under section 11 of the Roads Act, 1993. Where there is an undue delay by a road authority in taking a road in charge, there is provision under section 180 of the Planning Act 2000 for a majority of the qualified electors who own or occupy the houses within the estate in question to require the road authority to initiate proceedings under section 11 of the Roads Act, 1993.