Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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59. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the progress on the reduction of the speed limit in urban cores to 30km/h; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30910/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Government’s road safety strategy 2021 to 2030 ‘Our Journey Towards Vision Zero’, as published by the Road Safety Authority, includes the primary aim of reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads in half by 2030 and to achieve ‘Vision Zero’, zero deaths or serious injuries, by 2050. To help achieve this aim, the strategy included an action for a working group to be established to review the framework for the setting of speed limits and to give specific consideration to the introduction of a 30km/h default speed limit in urban areas.

Accordingly, this working group was established, and it comprised representatives from the City & County Managers Association, the Road Safety Authority, an Garda Síochána, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the Department of Transport. Their work led to the publication of the ‘Speed Limit Review’ in 2023, which included a number of principal recommendations concerning speed limit reductions in the interest of improving road safety:

1. A reduction in the default speed limit on rural local roads from 80km/h to 60km/h.

2. The introduction of a 30km/h default speed limit in built-up and urban areas.

3. A reduction in the default speed limit on national secondary roads from 100km/h to 80km/h.

The first phase, the change in the default speed limit on rural local roads from 80km/h to 60km/h, took effect nationally on the 7th February 2025. Speed surveys were carried out at approximately 100 locations before the speed limit change took effect and the intention is to resurvey traffic speeds at these locations in the coming months to determine if there has been any discernible change in traffic speeds. Before and after collision data will also be assessed for the purpose of determining if the speed limit change has had any impacts in this regard. This work is ongoing.

The second phase of the proposed speed limit changes concerns the introduction of a 30km/h speed limit in urban areas. It is intended that this speed limit change will be introduced by way of ‘special speed limit bye-laws’, rather than a change in the ‘default speed limit’. Accordingly, in respect of those roads in urban areas where local authorities propose to change existing speed limits to 30km/h, it will be necessary for each local authority to undertake a statutory public consultation process and consider representations, in accordance with the requirements of the ‘Road Traffic Act 2004’, as amended. As the making of ‘special speed limit bye-laws’ is a reserved function, the speed limits on roads in urban areas will only be changed where a majority of the elected members vote to do so.

To assist local authorities with the process of setting ‘special speed limits’ in urban areas and the attendant bye-laws procedures, a working group is presently revising the ‘Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland’. Five regional workshops were held with local authorities during April 2025, for the purpose of highlighting the proposed revisions to the ‘Guidelines’, together with the procedures to be followed, and the criteria to be considered by local authorities, in respect of setting speed limits in urban areas. The workshops also provided an opportunity to gather feedback from local authorities on the proposed ‘Guidelines’ for the purpose of improving the ‘Guidelines’.

It is expected that the ‘Guidelines’ will be finalised in Quarter 3, this year. Subject to ministerial approval, it is envisaged that the updated ‘Guidelines’ will issue to local authorities with a direction to commence the process of reviewing existing speed limits in urban areas in their respective administrative areas, and to set appropriate speed limits in accordance with the Guidelines.