Mayo senator calls for more autonomy to councillors to address road safety

A MAYO senator has called for more autonomy to be given to councillors and council engineers to identify accident black spots and carry out improvements.

Speaking on a debate on road safety in Seanad Éireann, Ballina-based Senator Mark Duffy said that it takes too long between  applications to address accident black spots being applied for and approved and the work taking place.

“Councillors have their finger on the pulse and know what is a dangerous junction or zone. They are the first to be called when black spots are identified. Low-cost safety measures are sometimes very welcome in terms of the funding model that exists. However, the delay between a black spot being identified to measures being funded can be up to two years.

READ: TII announce €16.2 million funding for Mayo’s National Roads

“If a situation needs to be addressed at a pedestrian crossing in January 2025, it may be the end of 2025 before the application is made, the decision may be made in 2026 and it could be the end of 2026 or beyond before it is implemented. More autonomy for engineers in local authorities to allow them to work with councillors could have a really positive effect,” he told the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jerry Buttimer, TD.

Senator Duffy also raised concerns that only 'piecemeal' funding was being approved for safety works outside schools under the Safe Routes to School scheme which is designed to encourage as many pupils and students as possible in primary and post-primary schools to walk, cycle and wheel to school.

The Fine Gael councillor said he knows of 'fabulous local transport plans' in Mayo towns which have incorporated safer routes to schools but the full funding is never approved.

“I have seen many instances in my area where safe routes to school plans have been created but have only been partially funded and where only minor measures are funded for each school. This defeats the purpose of what is involved. We need to 100 percent fund a full safe routes to school plan for each school in order that it is done once and done well rather than done as part of a piecemeal approach.

“This would be very well received and would be a gold standard in terms of road safety measures for those who are most vulnerable, namely schoolchildren. Instead of funding partial safe routes to school plans, I ask that we fund the full suite of measures to make sure there is a holistic approach to implementation,” he commented.