Lower speed limits to be introduced in urban areas across Cork city

Following the implementation of Phase 1 of the national speed limit changes, the reduction in the default speed limit on rural local roads from 80km/h to 60km/h in February 2025, Cork City Council is now commencing Phase 2 of the proposed speed limit changes, the implementation of built-up and urban area speed limits.

30km/h speed limits have been implemented on many urban roads in Cork city over the past number of years particularly in housing estates supported by funding from the Department of Transport. 

This phase of speed limit changes proposes to introduce further 30km/h speed limits as follows: All housing estate roads; residential streets; roads adjacent to schools, and roads where there is significant and regular interaction with vulnerable road users. 

Higher speed limits may apply within the urban area as follows: 50km/h for national, regional, arterial roads, and key public transport routes, and 60km/h on transition zones on national, regional, arterial roads, key public transport routes, and urban arterial roads with a high design speed such as motorway, certain dual carriageways, and roads with limited access.

A lower speed limit of 20 km/h may apply on pedestrian zones, shared spaces, and narrow laneways.

Cork City Council now seeks to collect the views of the public and stakeholders regarding speed limits on public roads in built-up and urban areas of Cork city. 

Submissions may be made via the Cork City Council Online Consultation Portal at https://consult.corkcity.ie/ or in writing to the Senior Executive Engineer, Traffic Regulation & Safety Section, Room 339, City Hall, Cork, T12 T997. 

This public consultation is open until 5pm on Friday, February 13.