Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
354. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if road design guidelines have taken into account the larger size of cars, given the discontinuation of a number of small sized car lines. [6512/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe design of roads in Ireland is governed by a suite of TII standards, along with other guidance documents such as the Design Manual for Urban Roads (DMURS). All standards and guidelines are kept under regular review and updated as required to reflect national policy, legislation, technical developments, international best practice and objectives related to safety, sustainability and climate. The National Guidelines and Standards Oversight Group comprises of members from the Department of Transport, TII, NTA, CCMA and local authorities. This group works together to ensure greater collaboration and alignment between the different bodies working in the roads and transport area, including the management of standards and guidelines which underpin infrastructure design, construction and maintenance. The group have a number of objectives, which includes the identification of possible gaps in standards, or where new standards may be required.
While some manufacturers may have discontinued certain small car models, Government transport and climate policy continues to prioritise reduced emissions, improved road safety, and sustainable mobility. These policies emphasise vehicle efficiency, reduced car dependency, and street designs that primarily support pedestrians, cyclists and public transport rather than increased accommodation for larger private vehicles. Vehicle trends will continue to be monitored by the Department of Transport and TII to ensure that national road design standards and guidelines remain appropriate while also aligning with policy objectives.
