Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

201. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position regarding the national speed limit review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8723/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of Action 6 of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy a review is underway to examine the framework for setting of speed limits in Ireland including specific consideration of the introduction of a 30km/h default speed limit in urban areas. As part of the work of the group an assessment was carried out on the existing framework of speed limits including the current guidance document for the ‘Setting and Managing of Speed Limits in Ireland’, best practice internationally as well as an analysis of potential options. This review is now nearing completion and I intend to publish the completed review in the coming months. Thereafter an implementation plan will be prepared to progress the recommendations of the review including as a priority updating the Guidelines for Setting and Managing of Speed Limits in Ireland.

The Road Traffic Act of 2004 sets out the current legislative basis for the setting of speed limits. The Act applies ‘default’ speed limits to different categories of road and also allows for local authorities to intervene and set ‘special speed limits’ on roads in their area. Local authorities have the discretion to decide on varying these limits through ‘Special Speed Limit’ bye-laws for roads within their administrative area. Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, as amended, sets out the range of Special Speed Limits that may be applied through bye-laws. The current special speed limits are 120km/h, 100km/h, 80 km/h, 60km/h, 50km/h, 40km/h, 30km/h and 20km/h. The making of such bye-laws is a reserved function of the elected members of the council. Currently a Bill is passing through the Houses of the Oireachtas to update the provisions for speed limits to allow for the introduction of variable speed limits on designated sections of national road. The Acts also provides Transport Infrastructure Ireland and An Garda Síochána with particular roles in relation to the application of Speed Limits.