New speed limits on Mayo roads to be rolled out by next March

Councillors have warned that the rollout of new 30km/h speed limit zones must be guided by a "common sense approach" if they are going to be effective.

The 30km/h speed limit for urban and built-up areas across Ireland is due to come into effect by March 31, 2027. Public consultation on Mayo County Council's proposed speed limit bylaws is expected to take place in August.

Members of the council's Roads Strategic Policy Committee received an update on the plans at their July meeting from John Cairns, Senior Executive Engineer with the Road Design Office.

The second phase of the Department of Transport's National Speed Limit Review began in October 2025 with updated guidelines on setting and managing speed limits in Ireland. Those guidelines will provide the framework for local authorities bringing in the new 30km/h limits.

All proposed bylaws identifying where the new speed limits will apply must be adopted by October 30, 2026. The resulting 30km/h zones must then be fully implemented by March 31, 2027.

Municipal district workshops were held in January, during which councillors reviewed proposals and assessments for their municipal areas, leading to a draft set of proposed bylaws.

The council is now progressing through the statutory process to produce a set of enforceable bylaws in consultation with An Garda Síochána.

It has also engaged with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) regarding proposals affecting national roads that pass through urban and built-up areas.

Mr Cairns said the public consultation stage would be the most critical and most important part of the entire process.

“Depending on feedback from TII, we will have our bylaws finalised by the end of this month, and we are looking at August for the public consultation period to ensure,” he said.

Once the consultation period closes, public submissions and observations will be assessed, and a report will be prepared.

Mr Cairns said the report on submissions, along with the final bylaws, will then be brought before councillors for them to adopt at their October monthly meeting. He added that the Department of Transport is working with Galway County Council, the nominated lead authority, to determine how many road signs will be required to implement the new bylaws and install the necessary signage across the country.

Cllr Damien Ryan said it is important that any new speed limit introduced reflects the level of vehicle and pedestrian activity in an area. He said the new limits would be "necessary and practical in urban areas", but warned that a "common sense approach" must be applied to their implementation.

“I know 30km zones are being mooted here and there. They work within reason and within areas that necessitate that, but like everything, if a speed limit goes out too far, it becomes non-functional,” he said.

Cllr Richard Finn said that the council can “put in as many speed limits as we like, the limits are going to be broken anyway,” but added that 30km/h zones would at least work as a deterrent. He argued that increased use of speed cameras would be the most effective way of slowing down drivers. Speed vans should also be used more effectively, adding that many drivers are already familiar with their usual locations.