Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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354. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he envisions a speed limit reduction in urban areas from 50 km/h to 30 km/h; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12281/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The 'Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland' are currently being reviewed and updated to provide additional guidance to local authorities on the criteria to be considered, and the steps to be taken, when setting speed limits in urban areas. It is expected that this work will be completed in quarter two of this year and the updated 'Guidelines' issued to the local authorities shortly thereafter.

It is intended that speed limit changes in urban areas will be introduced by way of ‘special speed limit bye-laws’, in accordance with the ‘Road Traffic Act 2004’, as amended. Accordingly, it will be necessary for each local authority to undertake a statutory public consultation process and consider all representations for proposed speed limit reductions to 30km/hr. The making of ‘special speed limit bye-laws’ is a reserved function.

The proposed implementation of speed limit reductions in urban areas will not necessarily have the same go-live date across all local authorities. Instead, the rollout of these speed limit reductions will likely be on a phased basis over a number of months and will be subject to the conclusion and outcome of the statutory public consultations and the bye-law process in each local authority.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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355. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has engaged with the Road Safety Authority to progress the issue of detection cameras for motorists running red lights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12282/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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In line with Actions 67 and 122 of Phase 1 of the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, the National Transport Authority (NTA) chaired a cross-agency working group to examine various approaches to expediting the timely and efficient introduction of camera based enforcement. The Working Group presented its final report to the Road Safety Partnership Board on 5 November 2023.

In 2024, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) was appointed to lead the development of the first National Safety Camera Strategy. It is anticipated that a draft strategy will be prepared for public consultation in the coming months. In the first instance, the strategy is focused on speeding from a road safety perspective and red light running and bus lane infringement from a traffic management perspective. The strategy will be flexible to accommodate further offences over times, such as mobile phone use, motor tax evasion and non-wearing of seatbelts.

Once this strategy is in place, it will provide the framework for increased deployment of cameras across the network, in both urban and rural locations, to assist with the enforcement of a wide range of road traffic offences.

Pending the finalisation of the strategy, using powers under Section 81(7) of the Road Traffic Act 2010, the National Transport Authority intend to collaborate with An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council on the deployment of traffic management cameras within Dublin. Procurement exercises will be required for both cameras and a system operator, with the intention that one or two locations will be operational this year as part of an interim arrangement.