The change, which came into effect on Friday 7 February 2025, was made in response to the finding of the Department of Transport’s speed limit review.

Reducing speed limits is part of the government’s road safety strategy and is one of a range of measures intended to reduce fatalities and protect road users.

Local authorities have received grant funding from the Department of Transport to purchase and install poles and signs to display the new speed limit on the relevant roads.

The rural speed limit sign, which is used as an alternative to numeric speed limit signs on specific single lane rural roads, will now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force.

The Department of Transport says it has been working closely with An Garda Síochána, along with other stakeholders, to ensure that the 60 km/h limit is enforced.

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien said on Friday: “Today’s speed limit reduction will save lives, because driving slower saves lives.

“Driving at a lower speed means that if you get into a collision, either as a driver or a vulnerable road user, death or serious injury is a significantly less likely outcome. It also means you are less likely to be involved in a collision at all.

“Death and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable, they are preventable through tangible, sensible measures. This government is taking action to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.”

Seán Canney, minister of state in the Department of Transport, added: “Today’s speed limit change is an outcome of many years of consultation, deliberation and engagement across the system, most notably from the evidence base of the 2023 speed limit review and close collaboration with local authorities who are implementing this reduction.

“This welcome change will give us all safer roads. Systemic changes like today’s speed limit reduction and road safety education — along with enforcement — have helped us significantly bring down road deaths, but in recent years this trend has worryingly reversed.

“Together we can make our roads safer, by observing the speed limit, driving safely and looking out for one another on rural local roads.”

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) welcomed the introduction of the new limit.

“Managing speed is one of the most effective ways to reduce fatalities and serious injuries from road traffic collisions,” said Michael Rowland, the RSA’s director of research, standards and assurance.

“Setting speed limits that are appropriate for the type of road and their use is a cornerstone of the Safe System approach. This is an internationally recognised, best practice approach to achieving ambitious reductions in road user fatalities and serious injuries.

“Today’s change will help make our rural communities safer for all road users — motorists, people who cycle, and pedestrians alike.

“We are also encouraged by the strong public support for this measure as indicated by our research. The majority of people recognise that rural local roads can be dangerous and are in favour of reducing speed limits to make them safer.”