To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether a 20mph speed limit zone can be installed at St Mary's on the Hill Primary School, Carmoney Road, Newtownabbey, particularly given the lack of a current crossing patrol in the area.

Road safety is a high priority for my Department and I am committed to working proactively to make our roads safer for everyone. I am acutely aware that children and young people are amongst the most vulnerable groups using our roads.

My Department is currently taking forward a third tranche of part-time 20mph zones at 40 schools across the North and are listed on my Department’s website, link; https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/20mph-speed-limit-schools-tranche-3.

This will bring the total delivered across the North since 2020/21 to 273 schools.

This initiative is a significant intervention that will help to ensure that children, parents and staff feel safer as they travel to and from school on a daily basis.

While the Tranche 3 programme focuses on schools on rural roads where the national speed limit applies, I am aware that there are schools in urban and residential areas, like Hill Primary School, which would also benefit from a reduction in speed limits. I have therefore asked my officials to prepare a paper on the use of permanent 20mph speed limits particularly near schools, in predominately residential areas and places such as town centres where there is a higher number of those walking, wheeling and cycling.

My Department is also currently carrying out a review on a number of speed related matters including 20mph speed limits in general and I plan to undertake a public consultation exercise as part of this review. Further consideration on the use of part time speed limits at schools will be taken on completion of the consultation.