Road Safety FAQs

 

How Road Safety Scheme Funding works on National Roads

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) works with local authorities to improve safety on the National Road network only. This page explains how safety issues are identified, how safety schemes are developed, and who to contact when concerns arise.

 

 

1. How Safety Issues are identified

TII carries out two national assessments each year (See Road Safety - Home for more detail on these processes):

  • Annual Collision Analysis
    Under GE STY 01022 Network Safety Analysis, TII identifies High Collision Locations (HCLs) — areas with above-average concentrations of collisions. The results are issued to local authorities for follow up.

  • Road Safety Inspections (RSI)
    Performed every 4 years under AM STY 06044, these inspections identify risks such as inadequate visibility, signage issues, or hazards affecting vulnerable road users. High risk findings are sent to local authorities to consider remedial actions.

 

2. Role of Local Authorities (Road Authorities)

Local authorities are legally the Road Authorities for National Roads. They are responsible for:

  • Assessing safety concerns raised locally

  • Reviewing collision history (including unreported collisions)

  • Designing safety schemes

  • Conducting economic appraisals

  • Fully costing and prioritising proposed works

  • Preparing a Feasibility & Options Report (GE STY 01037)

  • Procuring Technical Advisors and/or Contractors if required to carry out the work

TII do not design or initiate local schemes. Proposals must come from the relevant county council.

 

3. TII’s role and what TII funds

Once a local authority submits a compliant proposal, TII:

  • Reviews the feasibility report

  • Confirms design compliance with TII Standards

  • Assesses safety benefit and funding availability

  • Allocates funding for planning, design, or construction

TII funding for safety schemes can vary from very minor to large scale interventions (See TII Road Safety Scheme Activity for a detailed report of TII Road Safety Activity in 2025). For example:

  • Low-cost safety improvements

  • Junction upgrades

  • Pedestrian and cyclist safety measures

  • School area improvements where justified

  • Signage, speed management, and other targeted interventions

Importantly, a site does not need to be an official High Collision Location (HCL) for a local authority to submit a safety proposal.

 

4. Who to contact first

Contact the Local Authority first for any safety concern on a National Road, including:

  • Junction safety

  • Pedestrian crossings

  • Footpaths, active travel facilities

  • Speeding concerns

  • School area safety

  • Traffic calming

  • Signage or line marking issues

Local authorities must evaluate the issue and decide whether to prepare a feasibility report for TII. This applies even if the concern is raised by a TD, councillor, school, or individual member of the public.

 

5. Speed Limits on National Roads

  • Local authorities set speed limits.

  • However, any change to a speed limit on a National Road requires TII approval, in line with national policy and safety considerations.

  • Speed enforcement (e.g., Gardaí or GoSafe vans) is arranged through An Garda Síochána, not TII.

 

6. How the Safety Scheme Process Works (Summary)

  • TII identifies risks (reactive High Collision analysis and proactive Road Safety Inspections).

  • Local authority assesses the location, including data, speeds, collisions, pedestrian activity.

  • Local authority designs a scheme and undertakes an economic appraisal.

  • Local authority submits a Feasibility & Options Report to TII.

  • TII reviews and funds the scheme where justified and where funding is available.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

Because local authorities are the Road Authorities for National Roads. They must assess concerns and decide whether a scheme is required before TII can fund it.

No. Speed limits are set by local authorities.
However, any change to a speed limit on a National Road requires TII approval, and enforcement is handled by An Garda Síochána.

School boards are responsible for on site set down and parking arrangements.
Safety measures on the National Road outside the school must be proposed by the local authority before TII can consider funding.

Yes. Local authorities may submit proposals for other justified safety concerns, including vulnerable road users and school areas.

Local authorities must first carry out an assessment and submit a proposal. TII then reviews the feasibility report for compliance with TII Standards before approval. 

You should raise National Road safety concerns with the local authority’s roads department in the first instance. TII can only consider proposals once submitted formally by the local authority.