Michael Collins urges rethink on West Cork speed limit cuts
Michael Collins spoke in the Dáil about proposed speed limit reductions in West Cork, opposing blanket cuts on main routes such as the R585, R586 and N71 and calling for local consultation. He argued that responsibility for decisions is unclear between the local authority and the TII and warned that blanket reductions could harm rural businesses and traffic flow.
Michael Collins said he accepts measures to reduce speed where there are genuine safety problems, but he opposed a blanket drop from 80 to 60kph on key regional roads. He stressed that some stretches are safe and should retain higher limits while black spots should be addressed individually.
He described a lack of clarity over who is responsible for setting limits, saying the local authority tells councillors it is the TII’s decision while the minister told the Dáil the local authority makes the call. "There is an absolute calamity here. Nobody knows who is in charge of the roads," he said in the debate.
Collins warned that indiscriminate reductions would slow journeys on main routes into West Cork, citing the R585, R586 and N71 and examples of long stretches where overtaking is impossible. He said slower limits could close businesses in West Cork and produce frustration for motorists following tractors or lorries on long sections.
He urged consultation with local representatives – councillors, TDs and senators – and a "common sense approach" to any changes. He acknowledged that some local limit reductions had been sensible where roads were clearly unsafe, but insisted main thoroughfares require a more nuanced review.
Collins criticised comments from Deputy Paul Murphy opposing certain vehicle types for rural use, arguing that such views reflect an urban perspective unsuited to rural Ireland. He framed his position as defending the practical needs of rural communities and businesses.
Main argument
Michael Collins said he accepts measures to reduce speed where there are genuine safety problems, but he opposed a blanket drop from 80 to 60kph on key regional roads. He stressed that some stretches are safe and should retain higher limits while black spots should be addressed individually.
Decision-making confusion
He described a lack of clarity over who is responsible for setting limits, saying the local authority tells councillors it is the TII’s decision while the minister told the Dáil the local authority makes the call. "There is an absolute calamity here. Nobody knows who is in charge of the roads," he said in the debate.
Impact on rural business and traffic
Collins warned that indiscriminate reductions would slow journeys on main routes into West Cork, citing the R585, R586 and N71 and examples of long stretches where overtaking is impossible. He said slower limits could close businesses in West Cork and produce frustration for motorists following tractors or lorries on long sections.
Call for consultation and common sense
He urged consultation with local representatives – councillors, TDs and senators – and a "common sense approach" to any changes. He acknowledged that some local limit reductions had been sensible where roads were clearly unsafe, but insisted main thoroughfares require a more nuanced review.
Criticism of opposing comments
Collins criticised comments from Deputy Paul Murphy opposing certain vehicle types for rural use, arguing that such views reflect an urban perspective unsuited to rural Ireland. He framed his position as defending the practical needs of rural communities and businesses.
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Transcript
I have raised the issue quite often this week in relation to the speed limits. I was on two radio shows this morning explaining the situation and the crisis we find ourselves in West Cork. There are so many roads and the local roads, we did not have an issue with it, there will always be someone complaining, but a lot of them had to come from 80 to 60. We are very accepting of that, and I sympathise with anyone that has been involved in a traffic accident or any injuries or deaths that have been caused by traffic accidents. But when you look at the R5s and the R5s, there are so many of those roads, yes, they should come among kilometres, but the R585 and the R586 and the N71 are the main thoroughfares into West Cork. They cannot accept a blanket drop in speed limits. I am not, if there is a situation, and thankfully there is not that many accidents on the road, serious fatal accidents, there is always fatal accidents sometimes, but I am only saying in more recent limits there is not. If there is a black spot, yes, by all means drop the speed, but a blanket drop. The local authority has been telling independent Ireland councillors, Danny Collins, Daniel Sixxon, John Collins, Sir Curley, it is not our decision, it is the TII. The Minister came before me yesterday for six minutes, Minister Thomas Burton, instead of Dar O'Brien, but he was busy. He came before the Dáil yesterday and said, it is not a decision for any government or anyone else, only the local authority. The local authority have replied to councillors, my own councillors in question have said, it is not our decision. So there is an absolute calamity here. Nobody knows who is in charge of the roads. So basically, if there is roads and there is situations where there is danger, yes, the limit could come, the road between Bandon, Dunmanway, Dermadeague and down into Bantry, that is the main route into West Cork. Are you going to take it down, some parts of that road is 80, some parts 60, good God almighty, a bicycle will pass people on the road. That is insane. It will close businesses down in West Cork. It cannot happen. Common sense has to come into play. If there are stretches of that road that is dangerous, and it is 100, it should come down to 80. If there are stretches of that road that is safe and has never been a danger, it should remain at 100. So we are asking for a common sense approach. Basically what we are asking is that at least the local representatives, let there be councillors, let there be TDs, let there be senators, have some little bit of a say and speak to someone. But there is no one to speak to, because the government says it is local authority, local authority says kicking a can down the road and shoving it on to someone else. And you have Deputy Paul Murphy, who I don't like speaking about deputies when they have gone out of the door, saying you shouldn't have an electric vehicle, you shouldn't have a fossil fuel vehicle, you shouldn't have an SUV vehicle, because he lives in Dublin and he probably cycles around Dublin. So he expects people to do business in rural Ireland in a push bike. Well, you know, we live in the real world. Well, he lives in a fantasy. And the real world it means that business has to be done and conducted through it. And what I am saying, Minister, is that we are pleading for a little bit of consultation and a huge amount of common sense that is missing in all this conversation. The ELs, yes, they have gone down, no issue with it, hopefully it will save lives, and deservedly so, because I am living in a place west of Scull. And there is a road across from me 80 kilometres, you couldn't do 40 in it. Common sense had that, so it had to come down, I had no issue with that. But I am only asking the R586, the R585 and the IN71, that there is at least some consultation going forward, and it is not just a blanket bend and walk away. Because if it is, it is going to lead to outrage. I have situations where you have a road 22.4 kilometres between Clannacilty and Skibbereen on the IN71, you get caught behind a tractor or a lorry. You are there for the whole of the 29 kilometres without being able to pass. You get caught on 22.4 kilometres between Clannacilty and abandoned behind a lorry or tractor. And you can't pass. It is an astonishing situation we find ourselves in Westcark, because there has been a lack of investment, years and years of lack of investment.