THE MOTHER OF a six-year-old boy who died after being knocked down outside his home last June is planning a three night sleep-out protest outside Leinster House as part of a campaign to have speed limits in housing estates reduced.
Jake Brennan died after being hit by a car outside his family home in Kilkenny.
In the wake of his death, his family launched Jake’s Legacy Campaign in a bid to reduce speed limits and introduce mandatory speed bumps.
The family have held meetings with Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe as part of the campaign. Last October, after his department carried out a survey on the issue, Donohoe issued a circular calling on all local authorities to review speed limits in residential areas and housing estates.
“Jakie in your name I am going to protest outside the Dáil from 1pm Sunday the 15th of February,” Jake’s mother, Roseann, wrote on Facebook.
She plans to finish the protest on Wednesday 19th, at the time of her son’s death — 6.25pm.
Roseanne said that a number of family members planned to sleep outside the Dáil for the three nights.
For our Jake’s legacy we feel that the speed limits in housing estates should be a mandatory 30km/h and should have more safety measures in place for where our children are expected to play.
“So we are asking anyone who can spare a few hours during this duration night or day to please come and help save out children.”
The Department of Transport found that about 14 per cent of the 8,725 housing estates it surveyed had speed ramps. Each bump costs an average of €3,200.
Local authorities were asked to submit their proposed timelines for implementing any new measures by November last.
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