Speed limit in Offaly urban areas set to be reduced despite councillors’ concerns

The speed limit in towns and villages in County Offaly is set to be reduced next year, despite the concerns of some local councillors.

John Mitchell, Senior Executive Engineer at Offaly County Council, provided an update on the National Speed Limit Review at the March meeting of the Edenderry Municipal District.

He outlined how in September 2023, the Department of Transport initiated a review of speed limits right across the country.

The first phase of this review resulted in the reduction of the speed limit on rural local roads, from 80km/h to 60km/h.

The next phase of the review will look to reduce the speed limit in urban areas from 50km/h to 30km/h.

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However, on this occasion, local authorities will be empowered to choose which roads are to have their speed limits reduced and which ones will remain as is.

This was outlined by Executive Engineer Thomas Ryan, who told the meeting what the role of the council will be in this process.

Mr Ryan said: “In built-up urban areas, there is a recommended speed limit of 30km/h to be introduced.

“The 30km/h limit should be applied in all urban centres, residential roads and locations where there is a significant presence of vulnerable road users within an urban core.

“What we have been tasked with is to identify the urban speed limit zones. So effectively, in urban areas, built up areas, it’s the zone around that area, typically where we already have the 50 and 60 signs to date.”

He reiterated that no further changes will be made to rural or local roads. He added that changes will only be made in existing urban areas, and will not account for potential or planned areas.

Following the presentation, independent councillor Eddie Fitzpatrick expressed concern over whether the changes will be effective.

Cllr Fitzpatrick said: “I don’t know how much of an impact that is going to have, being honest with you.

“We have been talking about policies here for a long number of years in relation to raised areas and speed ramps in towns and villages and we’re still not looking at that policy.

“If you take from Kilmalogue Cross out to Na Cluainte in Portarlington, it’s a straight stretch of road. The speed van is parked up maybe two or three times a week. It’s a 50km/h zone.

“You bring that down to 30 and it’s still not going to change the speeding because when the speed van is not there, they’re passing out on it doing maybe 70 or 80km/h.”

He added that in his opinion, the only way to slow people down on such roads is to introduce more speed ramps.

Cllr Fitzpatrick also expressed concern over whether the gardaí will have the resources to enforce such changes.

“Along with that, the reports I got in relation to road policing by An Garda Síochána. They don’t even have the numbers to be out on the roads doing this, so it’s not going to be policed.

“So you know, that’s the only fear. I see the number of accidents even happening coming out of estates in Portarlington where people are coming out and people are passing like.

“There’s collisions happening because of that. It’s great that we can reduce the speed but policing is going to be a huge problem.”

Independent Ireland councillor Fergus McDonnell also emphasised the importance of traffic calming measures, saying they should be combined with the speed limit review.

Fine Gael councillor Noel Cribbin agreed and told the executive that they have a “big job” ahead of them.

He added that the reduction of the speed limit “has to be done” but he also expressed concern over its effectiveness.

Meanwhile, the Cathaoirleach, Fine Gael councillor Liam Quinn, highlighted the importance of making sure the speed limit is enforced.

In response to the councillors, Mr Mitchell provided reassurance that traffic calming measures can be reviewed separately by the council.

Meanwhile, Mr Ryan said that the engineers were only describing the process that will be carried out.

He told councillors that the executive will come back to them with its recommendations “in the next couple of months”.

It is envisaged that these changes will come into effect on the same date nationwide and that date is currently set for March 31, 2027.