Louth TD says ‘more holistic’ solution needed to make roads safer for all

A “more holistic” solution is needed to make roads safer, Dundalk TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil, in a debate where he raised a number of local problems.

The Sinn Féin deputy said that traffic crashes are tragedies for those involved and their loved ones, and highlighted the deaths in October of Chris Bradley and Wayne Lynch on the M1 close to Dundalk, as well as the death of an Algerian man on an e-scooter on the Armagh Road.

He said he was pleased to see the government review of speed limits, but said there needed to be better and more transparent local reviews of speed limits, particularly in housing estates, including he added, a “really consistent process on road safety and traffic calming, like ramps, because how it is done changes from county to county”.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: “We need consistent rules and a process whereby someone knows the criteria that need to be met and that can be looked at.

“While I accept that there will always be an application process to central government for particular funding streams, we definitely can do better.”

He highlighted a case in North Louth where a house near Carlingford has been damaged and a driver lost his life in a crash earlier this year.

The Louth TD said: “At Mullatee in Carlingford, a number of incredibly serious accidents have occurred. On 12 March, a vehicle left the road resulting in the death of a male.

“On 26 May, a female driver also lost control sustaining head and internal injuries. On 16 September, another male driver left the road and suffered head injuries. It is a stretch of road that obviously needs to be looked at but in addition to that, there is a house at this point.

“There has been a refusal to date by the council to put some protective solution in place. There has been upwards of €50,000 of damage to the house so this issue needs to be looked at.”

Schools were also on the Sinn Féin TD's agenda. He said: “The Minister of State would have seen the case of Bellurgan National School, regarding which a proposal is in place, and Bush Post-Primary School. There needs to be a review of the entire road in the area. I have spoken to the Minister previously about this matter.

“There is also an issue with Kilcurry National School. There have been some solutions, but there is a particular issue with a crossroads not far from it that is in bad shape.

“Shelagh National School is another case. A process for people to deliver solutions that will suit parents, children and everybody else does not exist. We need a more holistic solution.”

Problems on the M1, with lights being turned off at junctions and the fact that tractors using the motorway are causing issues, were also highlighted.

He said: “A number of hauliers have contacted us. We all know that farmers need to have access to land, but some of what has been relayed to use relates to lighting.

“Some of it may relate to vehicles, but I spoke previously about the M1 and literally putting lights off and reducing the number of lights in certain areas.

“The answers people received were to the effect that it related to the carbon footprint of the company involved. If that affects safety, it is not acceptable. I will follow up with the Minister of State on those issues.”