Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Infrastructure when she plans to commence a further roll-out of the part-time 20mph speed limit schemes at schools across Mid Ulster.
Minister for Infrastructure: Road safety is a high priority for my Department and I am committed to working proactively to make our roads safer for everyone. I am acutely aware that children and young people are amongst the most vulnerable groups using our roads.
My Department is currently taking forward a third tranche of part-time 20mph zones at 40 schools across the North and are listed on my Department’s website, link; 20mph speed limit at schools – Tranche 3 | Department for Infrastructure. This third tranche focuses on rural schools that are located on roads where the national speed limit applies while considering the safety implications of introducing lower speed limits.
This will bring the total delivered across the North since 2020/21 to 273 schools.
This initiative is a significant intervention that will help to ensure that children, parents and staff feel safer as they travel to and from school on a daily basis.
My Department is also currently carrying out a review on a number of speed related matters including 20mph speed limits in general and I plan to undertake a public consultation exercise as part of this review. Further consideration on the use of part time speed limits at schools will be taken on completion of the consultation.
ENDS
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