Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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559. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review speed limits here in view of the levels of death and serious injury on Irish roads to date in 2019; the legislation which would have to be reviewed in such a review of speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11624/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. For regional and local roads it is a matter for each respective local authority.

The Road Traffic Act 2004 establishes default speed limits that apply to defined categories of roads and which can only be changed by county and city councils through the making of special speed limit bye-laws, and Section 9 of that Act sets out the range of special speed limits that may be set by local authorities through such bye-laws. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide advice and guidance in relation to the making of speed limit bye-laws by county and city councils for the purpose of applying special speed limits. Transport Infrastructure Ireland and all local authorities commenced a comprehensive review and update of speed limits in their administrative areas in accordance with the latest 2015 guidelines and for which a significant amount of local authorities have completed the required process to date.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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560. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on recent reports that a leading car manufacturer (details supplied) plans to introduce a speed limiter on all its new vehicles from 2020; his further views on such a proposal to promote speed limiters on all new vehicles made or imported into the EU at the EU Transport Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11625/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the deputy will know increasing road safety is very important to me and any measure that can help this aim is to be welcomed.

Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council established an approval system for vehicles within the EU. The system ensures that a vehicle must be manufactured in compliance with a wide range of safety standards before it can be placed on the market. This ‘type-approval’ system is periodically updated to account for improvements in safety standards and to allow advanced safety features to become mandatory requirements. Amendments to Directive 2007/46/EC are scrutinised, evaluated and voted upon by a number of different EU-level technical committees and working groups attended by representatives from the State.

The type-approval system is transposed into Irish law by SI No. 158 of 2009 – the European Communities (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval) Regulations 2009. These regulations have been amended several times to account for the continually improving safety standards that have become obligatory for vehicles in the European fleet.