482. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged with local authorities regarding the expansion of urban speed limit zones and the introduction of transitional speed zones on approach roads to towns where future housing development is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56754/26]

Following my direction, the Department of Transport issued a Circular to local authorities on 16 October 2025 requesting that they implement built-up and urban area speed limits by 31 March 2027, and in accordance with updated ‘Speed Limit Guidelines’.

The proposed speed limit changes in urban areas will be implemented by way of ‘special speed limit bye-laws’. Accordingly, in respect of those roads in urban areas where local authorities propose to change existing speed limits, the local authority will undertake a statutory public consultation process and consider all 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 built-up and urban areas will only be changed where a majority of the elected members vote to do so.

This approach recognises and respects the positive and important role local authorities, and the elected members, fulfil in setting speed limits in urban areas. It will allow local authority engineers, familiar with the roads and the local traffic conditions in their respective administrative areas, to review the existing speed limits, and to recommend changes to these speed limits, if appropriate, and with due regard to the procedures and the criteria set out in the ‘Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland’.

Furthermore, the period of statutory public consultation will provide an opportunity for members of the public and all stakeholders to engage with the process and to make representations to the local authorities and the elected members on the proposed speed limit changes.

The ‘Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland’ , set out the procedures to be followed and the criteria to be considered when setting special speed limits on roads. In the context of setting speed limits adjacent land, which is zoned for residential units, it is important that the following key points included in the ‘Guidelines’ are considered:

-“The overall objective in setting speed limits is to ensure that safe limits are set for the road in question that appropriately reflect the current network so that roads are self-regulating or self-explaining” – Chapter 1 – Introduction

-“The overriding principle that must inform any decision to change a default speed limit should be road safety. In addition, to be effective, a speed limit should be self-regulating (self-explaining) and regarded as appropriate by road users and should not be imposed on a road unless there is a clear justification for doing so. If a Special Speed Limit is not warranted and does not appear appropriate to the road user, the road user will tend to ignore it, creating enforcement difficulties and potentially bringing the whole system of speed limits into disrepute.” – Chapter 4 – The Making of Speed Limit Bye-Laws.

-“The Urban Speed Limit Zone should reflect existing urban areas and should not be based upon potential or planned areas”. – Chapter 7 – The Setting of Speed Limits – Detailed Guidance