Cork City Council Seeks Public Views on New 30kmh Speed Zones

Cork City Council has launched a public consultation on introducing 30km/h speed limits across housing estates, residential streets, and roads near schools throughout the city.

The proposed changes would see reduced speed limits applied to all housing estate roads, residential streets, roads adjacent to schools, and other areas where there is "significant and regular interaction" between pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Other areas are planned to remain 50km/h zones, with some potentially increasing.

Green Party councillor for Cork City North East Oliver Moran has called on residents to participate in the consultation, particularly those living in areas where the classification may be unclear.

Oliver Moran said:

"The consultation now will be very important. In particular, the guidelines talk about residential areas or areas with significant pedestrian interaction. These are assumed to be 30km/h under the new guidelines, but for areas near the city centre, that aren't housing estates but are still residential, like Summer Hill or Lower Glanmire Road, it's unclear what way that will fall.

I've asked that we will include residential areas like these, where homes face out onto the road. If it's taken as a given housing estates should be 30km/h then why would it not include other types of residential areas?

Unfortunately, we are in a sort of clash of worlds. One world that looks out of a windscreen and sees a road. Another that looks out of their front-room and sees a street.

When residents of Ballyhooly Road did a poster campaign asking motorists to slow down, I was struck, for example, by comments on Facebook to the effect that, 'It's a road, they shouldn't expect their kids to be safe around it.' So, the residents from these areas need to make that point and make it loudly. That areas like yours are where someone lives first, and where someone else drives through second."

The public consultation is open now until Friday, 13th February 2026. Residents can submit their views at consult.corkcity.ie.