AQW 29393/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 26/06/2025
Answered On Date: 08/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether her Department will consider reducing the speed limit on the O’Neill Road, Newtownabbey, given the location of the Belfast Rapid Transport Phase 2 route and the access to the (i) local park for residents; (ii) local recycling centre; and (iii) the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice for patients and their families.

Answer:

My Department’s policy for setting the appropriate speed limit for a road aims to ensure speed limits are consistent and motorists are presented with the same speed limit on similar roads taking into account factors such as: the characteristic of the road; the speed of existing traffic; the degree of frontage development; and road traffic collision data, which is continuously monitored using data provided by the PSNI.

The current speed limits on the O’Neill Road are in line with our policy document and considered to be appropriate.

However, I would also like to see what can be done to improve attitudes to speeding, not only for road safety purposes, but to make places cleaner and greener. I have therefore asked my officials to prepare a paper on the use of permanent 20mph speed limits particularly near schools, in predominantly residential areas and places such as town centres where there is a higher number of those walking, wheeling and cycling.

I have also asked that consideration be also given to the national speed limits that apply on rural roads and HGV speed limits.

To ensure that other’s views are considered in the setting of speed limits here, I plan to hold a public consultation exercise later this year.