Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether her Department will introduce a 20mph speed limit at (i) St. Patrick’s College, St. Mary Building, Tullyheran Road, Maghera; and (ii) St. John’s Primary School, Kingsisland.
Minister for Infrastructure: I was pleased to announce the next phase of part-time 20mph speed limit schemes for schools across the North. A full list of schools included in the next tranche is available on my department’s website 20mph speed limit at schools – Tranche 3 | Department for Infrastructure
All schools within the Mid Ulster Council area have been assessed to ensure that those most in need of part time 20mph speed limits are prioritised. Regrettably, St. Patrick’s College and St. John’s Primary schools did not score as highly as other locations and were not included in this tranche. However, these schools will be considered in any future extensions of the programme.
While the tranche 3 programme focuses on schools on rural roads where the national speed limit applies, I am aware that there are schools in urban and residential areas which would also benefit from a reduction in speed limits. I have therefore asked my officials to prepare a paper on the use of permanent 20mph speed limits particularly near schools, in predominately residential areas and places such as town centres where there is a higher number of those walking, wheeling and cycling.
ENDS
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