Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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38. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider introducing universal speed limits of 10 km/h on shared spaces and active travel greenways. [36427/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Speed Limit Review 2023 fulfilled a Programme for Government commitment, and an action included in the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. I have been advised by my officials that this report made several recommendations principally relating to recommending the lowering of default speed limits on urban, local and national secondary roads. A reference to a speed limit of 20km/h applying in pedestrian zones and shared space/ zones was included in the review as well as a recommendation that a speed limit of 30km/h should be considered for Cycleways and Greenways, which are mixed in use.

In support of this review, an implementation task force, led by the Department of Transport was established to oversee the delivery of the recommendations in this report. The initial focus of this group was to progress a reduction of the default speed limits on rural local roads from 80km/h to 60km/h, this was implemented in February 2025. Other recommendations within the report remain under review.

The proposed speed limit change concerning the introduction of a 30km/h speed limit in urban areas (including the introduction of 20km/h speed limits in pedestrian zones and shared spaces/ zones where appropriate) is proposed to be implemented 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. It is anticipated that the process whereby local authorities can commence the process of reviewing existing speed limits in urban areas in their respective administrative areas will be initiated from late 2025.

I have been advised that some local authorities have developed code of conducts with signage displayed at regular intervals along some Greenways to promote positive behaviours including that the pathway is a shared space and persons should be respectful of other users.