Councillors will consider plans to reduce new city speed limit

DUBLIN CITY councillors will next month consider proposals to reduce, or eliminate, the area governed by the 30km/h speed limit introduced less than a month ago.

Bylaws to introduce the new speed restrictions were approved by an overwhelming majority of councillors last October, following a public consultation process during which no objections were received. However, their introduction on January 31st resulted in criticism from motoring lobby group the AA, several city councillors and national politicians, and some radio broadcasters.

The council's traffic department yesterday told councillors that although the new speed restrictions had attracted "much media coverage" they had not increased traffic congestion in the city centre and were an internationally accepted safety measure.

It also reminded councillors that any change to the speed limit will require new bylaws, a process that takes a minimum of six months.

The councillors, who are members of the council's traffic committee, agreed to put a motion forward to the full council meeting next month to restore the 50km/h limit on parts of the quays, Kildare Street and Winetavern Street. The council will also consider a motion put forward by Fine Gael councillor Bill Tormey to restore the higher limit to all parts of the city which were changed to 30km/h last month.

The speed limit of most of the shopping and central business areas of the city was reduced to 30km/h in 2006. However, the council was unable to reduce the speed on O'Connell Street, the quays, and from D'Olier Street to Christ Church because they were national primary roads governed by the National Roads Authority. The council subsequently obtained NRA sanction to change the status of these routes, and introduced the new bylaws.