To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether consideration will be given to (i) a graduated reduction in speed on Castlewellan Road, Banbridge, close to Ballydown Primary School; and (ii) the installation of a crash barrier outside Ballydown Primary School.

The Department’s policy for setting the appropriate speed limit for a road aims to ensure speed limits are consistent and motorists are presented with the same speed limit on similar roads taking into account factors such as: the characteristic of the road; the speed of existing traffic; the degree of frontage development; and road traffic collision data, which is continuously monitored using data provided by the PSNI. I am advised that the current speed limits at this location on the Castlewellan Road are appropriate against the Department’s current policy.

Ballydown Primary School was also assessed as part of the part-time 20mph speed limit at schools programme in accordance with the Department’s policy, ‘Road Safety at Schools’ which can be viewed at: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/road-safety-schools-rsppg-e070 , and regrettably it did not score highly enough to be considered for inclusion in either of the first two tranches. Over the coming weeks, I will be considering my priorities, including the potential for a further tranche of the 20mph schools programme, in the context of the funding that is currently available to my Department.

The provision of a vehicle restraint system at this location has been assessed on several occasions but does not meet the assessment criteria. I can confirm that the Department has recently provided additional safety measures on the Castlewellan Road with double white lines close to the school to prevent overtaking and school warning signs.

Concerns regarding driver behaviour such as speeding, or parking which causes an obstruction to other road (and footway) users should be directed to the police using the non-emergency number 101.