asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the serious traffic problem which exists at Collon village, County Louth, on the N2 where 26 accidents have occurred in the past five years and five people have lost their lives and where 24 resulted in serious injury; to the fact that the traffic survey carried out by An Foras Forbartha established that 100 per cent of vehicles exceed the speed limit; if he will assist Louth County Council in providing for traffic lights; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Collon (Louth), Traffic Problem.
16.
The question of the need for traffic lights at Collon is primarily a matter for Louth County Council. The installation of such lights is also a matter for the local authority acting at the request of or with the consent of the Garda Commissioner.
Proposals have recently been received in my Department from the local authority for the provision of pedestrian crossing traffic lights and traffic route lighting in Collon village. Additional information has been requested from the local authority, including details of the traffic survey, to enable detailed consideration of these proposals to be made.
Is the Minister aware that more people are killed in County Louth each year than in any other county? Given the difficult financial position of Louth County Council, is he prepared to make funding available for the provision of these very necessary lights?
As the Deputy rightly says, that is a matter for the local authority in consultation with the Garda Síochána in the first instance.
They have no money.
I suggest therefore that the Deputy use his influence in having the estimated cost and traffic count sent to the Department as it might help.