Government plans to ban roadside memorials
A roadside memorial marks the scene where a loved one has been killed in an accident.
A plan for local authorities to remove roadside memorials for victims of car accidents needs to be considered in more detail, a Fine Gael TD has said.
The policy advises local authorities that the installation of roadside memorials is not permitted on motorways, dual carriageways and on roads with speed limits greater than 60km/h.
Chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, Deputy Michael Murphy said: “Roadside memorials are deeply personal and profoundly emotional markers of loss. They are not merely roadside features - they are expressions of grief and remembrance by families whose lives have been shattered by road tragedies."
Deputy Murphy also questioned the consistency of the approach being taken.
“Local authorities already operate licensing systems for roadside advertising, where proposals are assessed on a case-by-case basis with road safety, visibility and location taken into account. If that level of discretion is considered appropriate for commercial advertising, it is entirely reasonable to ask why a similar, sensitive and consultative approach cannot be applied to roadside memorials for grieving families."
Waterford TD Conor McGuinness told the : “I would think the TII would have better things to be doing with their time than effectively a cosmetic exercise that has the potential to cause real hurt.”
The Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said they recognise that roadside memorials are often placed by bereaved families and friends as a tribute to loved ones who have lost their lives in road traffic incidents.
However, they said the safety of all road users must be the "primary objective" for road authorities.
TII recommended that local authorities make alternative options available for members of the public to remember their loved ones, such as designated memorial gardens or public spaces.
