Tipperary Council has said they have no choice but to ban roadside memorials on many of the county’s roads. 

Often, when a person dies in a road crash, the family will memorialise them with a plaque on the side on the road close to where they died. 

Now, however, it is set to become a lot more difficult. 

On Lunchtime Live, independent Cllr Jim Ryan said the decision has been pushed on them by the Department of Transport, citing road safety concerns. 

“We have to become compliant with the Government's policy for the Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, whereby the Government set up a kind of a road safety strategy from 2025 to 2030,” he explained. 

“As a result of that, they have directed each County Council in Ireland to bring in these policies for roadside memorials. 

“So, unfortunately, we have no choice in the matter.”

A Garda places flowers at the scene of a crash. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie.

Cllr Ryan continued that if the road speed is below 60km/ph, then families can apply for permission, which will be granted “on a case by case basis”. 

“The guidance coming down from the Department saying that on roads with speeds above 60 kilometres per hour, they're saying roadside memorials should not be permitted,” he explained. 

“So, what I want to get out to your listeners out there is that they need to get on to each individual County Council and see what their policies are going to be now going forward. 

“I can only talk about what we're doing here in Tipperary County Council and what we were told by our Executive that we had to make these changes.”

Cllr Ryan confirmed that while no existing memorials will be removed, he believes the policy will upset families in the future, when they are denied the opportunity to install a memorial to a loved one who dies in a road crash.

Main image: A roadside memorial. Picture by: Alamy.com.