PUBLIC NOTICE
Louth County Council Road Traffic Draft Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws 2026
Under Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, the Members of Louth County Council propose to make Special Speed Limit Bye-laws in respect of urban and built-up areas within the administrative area of Louth County Council.
The reason for making these Bye-laws arises from recent legislation (Road Traffic Act 2024) whereby the default speed limit for urban and built-up areas will be 30km/h (reduced from 50km/h). The 30km/h limit should apply, for all city or town centres, residential roads and locations where there is a significant presence of vulnerable/active road users.
The purpose of these Bye-laws is to provide for the introduction of Special Speed Limits on urban and rural roads in built-up areas.
The proposed commencement date of the 30km/h default speed limit for urban areas is 31 st March 2027.
These Special Speed Limit Bye-laws relate to urban and built-up areas only, and exceptions may be permitted for the following:
o Pedestrian zones and shared space/zones where a speed limit of 20km/h could be applied.
o National, regional, arterial roads and key public transport routes where limits of up to 50km/h could be applied.
o Transition zones on national, regional, arterial roads and key public transport routes with limits up to 60km/h.
Accordingly, Louth County Council has prepared Draft Road Traffic Special Speed Limit Bye-laws. A copy of the Draft Bye-laws is available for public inspection during the hours of 9.30am and 4.00pm at the offices of Louth County Council from 16 th June, 2026 to 16 th July, 2026.
- County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk, Co Louth A91 KFW6
- Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91 W20C
- Drogheda Civic Offices, Fair Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth A92 P440
- Mid Louth Civic Services Centre, Fair Green, Ardee, Co. Louth A92 RYT2
- electronically on the Louth County Council website using the following link https://consult.louthcoco.ie/en/consultation/speed-limit-review-2026-phase-2-4-implementation-built-
and-urban-area-speed-limits - At the following drop in events.
| Date | Venue | Location | Time |
| 24th June 2026 | Ardee Civic Office | Fair Green ArdeeCo Louth A92 RYT2 | 4-7 pm Wednesday |
| 25th June 2026 | Drogheda Civic Office | Fair Street DroghedaCo Louth A92 P440 | 4-7 pm Thursday |
| 26th June 2026 | Louth County Council | Millennium CentreDundalk, Co LouthA91 KFW6 | 4-7 pm Friday |
If you wish to make a submission in relation to these Bye-laws please do so from 16th June 2026 to 16th July 2026 by:
- electronically on the Louth County Council website using the following link: https://consult.louthcoco.ie/en/consultation/speed-limit-review-2026-phase-2-4-implementation-built- and-urban-area-speed-limits
- by email to speedlimitreview2026@louthcoco.ie
- in writing to the undersigned marked “Submission – Louth Speed Limit Review 2026” to Operations Section, Louth County Council, County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk A91KFW6
A copy of the Draft Bye-laws may be purchased on payment of the prescribed fee of €7.
Mark Johnston
Senior Engineer
Operations & Environment Delivery
Louth County Council
County Hall
Millennium Centre
Dundalk
Co. Louth A91 KFW6
mark.johnston@louthcoco.ie
16th June, 2026
