FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL has backed a motion calling for speed limits in housing estates to be reduced to 20km per hour.

The move comes after the campaigning of Jake Brennan’s family, following the six-year-old’s death after he was hit by a car outside his home in Kilkenny last June.

Jake Brennan Screengrab / TV3 Screengrab / TV3 / TV3

Since then his mother Roseann and others have been calling for speed limits in housing estates to be reduced, and the introduction of mandatory speed bumps.

Roseann held a two-day sleep out protest outside the Dáil in February.

In March, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe unveiled new guidelines for ‘slow zones’ across the country in urban areas that allow local authorities implement a 30km per hour speed limit in residential areas if they deem it necessary.

Fingal now plans to introduce a 20km per hour rule. A number of other housing estates have introduced 30 km per hour speed limits.

In a post on the Jake’s Legacy Facebook page, the group thanked local authorities for their support.

So so happy to see that the Councillors are getting behind us and starting to reduce the speeds. We need this to start happening across the country immediately.

We thank any Local Authority that are putting our children’s safety as a priority.

Speaking after her motion was passed, Sinn Féin Councillor Natalie Treacy said: “Jake Brennan’s parents started a campaign hoping aimed at reducing the speed limit to 20km in housing estates, aimed at safeguarding children while they cycle, run and play.

Roseann's protest outside Leinster House Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

“I drafted this motion with the aim of demonstrating to the Minister for Transport that Fingal County Council support this reduction of the speed limit to 20km per hour.

“I understand that a lot of work has gone into starting a pilot scheme to reduce the speed to 30km”, however 10km slower is appropriate when you consider that 262 children aged 14 and under lost their lives on our roads between 1997 and 2012.”

Fingal County Council will now send a letter to Donohoe articulating its support for the reduced speed limit.

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