Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
368. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for a detailed update on the progression and implementation of the 12 primary actions and 77 support actions of the Phase 2 Action Plan of the Road Safety Strategy; to highlight engagements with local authorities on the ongoing speed limits review and implementation of 2023 speed limit review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34587/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Phase 2 Action plan of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy was published by my Department in July of last year for the period 2025 – 2027. Delivering the Action Plan is a collaborative effort involving my Department, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration together with An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Health and Safety Authority and the Local Authorities.
Key deliverables for this year include passing the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025 to allow Local Authorities to resume accepting and processing collision data. The next Road Traffic Bill is also under development to advance Programme for Government commitments around graduated speeding penalties and the camera enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences. We are also addressing the long-standing issue relating to repeat renewal of learner permits with regulations coming into effect this November.
On 29 April, I published the first National Safety Camera Strategy which provides a framework for increased deployment of cameras across the road network in urban and rural locations. A delivery focused Camera Enforcement Oversight Group will be established shortly to progress the strategy.
The Deputy might wish to know that this year €14 million has been allocated under the Low-Cost Safety Improvement Scheme to support small-scale engineering measures to address identified road safety issues, representing an increase of €1 million (approximately 8%) on 2025 allocations.
The NTA reports that in 2025 a total of 146km of active travel infrastructure has been delivered, along with 149 bus shelter upgrades. In addition, 315 junctions have been upgraded, exceeding initial expectations. In December 2025, 105 additional schools were added under round four of the Safe Routes to School programme.
I am pleased that the RSA has again ringfenced funding of €18 million for road safety awareness, education and promotional campaigns focused on making our roads safer for all road users, including and especially vulnerable road users.
As the Deputy will be aware Phase 1 of the Speed Limit Review was completed in February 2025, when the default speed limit on rural and local roads was reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h, impacting approximately 83,000km of Ireland’s 102,000km road network.
Phase 2 is underway and, following direction from Minister O'Brien, my Department issued a Circular with updated ‘Guidelines’ to local authorities in October 2025, directing them to implement the urban speed limit changes of 30km/h, where appropriate, to come into effect no later than 31st March 2027.
Phase 3 is to be commenced, subject to legislative amendments, and will provide for a reduction in the default speed limit on national secondary roads from 100km/h to 80km/h, where appropriate.
My Department, together with representatives from the Speed Limit Implementation Working Group, continues active engagement with the Association of Irish Local Government, which represents the 949 elected city and county councillors.
My focus as Minister, the focus of my Department and of all the road partners who we work with, is on the delivery of the Phase 2 Action Plan. This Action Plan was developed by road experts, based on Irish experience and looking at best practice in other countries.
