Council plans to introduce Polish road signs
Laois County Council has already contacted the Polish Embassy in Dublin regarding a plan to introduce road signs in the language for the benefit of drivers from the eastern European country.
The news came as the number of road traffic fatalities so far this year climbed to 71 including four killed in separate accidents on another black weekend.
The latest victim was a 20-year-old Dubliner, killed early yesterday in a single vehicle accident.
A member of Laois County Council's roads' division said the council was awaiting approval for the scheme.
However, the local authority has not decided which roads will feature the new signage or the proposed introduction date.
He said the county council was "testing the waters" in relation to a specific road sign and that, if successful, other signs might also feature translations into Polish.
He also raised the possibility of signage in other languages such as Latvian or Czech, adding that the council was examining the main international communities settled in Ireland.
A spokesperson for the Polish Embassy confirmed that representatives from the council had been in contact requesting their interpretation skills.
She added that, to the best of her knowledge, Laois County Council was the first local authority to make contact regarding such an initiative.
More than 120,000 Polish citizens have travelled to Ireland to live and work since accession to the European Union in 2004.
The Department of Transport said it was not contacted by Laois County Council about the proposals for Polish language road signs.
The spokesperson added that while there were certain regulations that needed to be followed, "anything that improves road safety is welcome".
Councils need departmental permission if they wish to translate regulatory signs such as 'Stop' or 'Yield' but do not require permission to change other signs such as those carrying road safety messages.
Meanwhile, gardaí have issued an appeal for more information relating to the crash in Co Donegal where five foreign nationals died earlier this month.
Gardaí want to hear from anyone who saw a Maroon coloured Audi 80 in or near Buncrana between 2.30am and 4.15am on February 18. They also want to hear from anyone who saw the other vehicle involved, the white coloured Volkswagen Vento, around the time of the accident and are appealing for a driver who drove on the main road from the direction of Lisfannon onto Ballymacarry roundabout at approximately 4.10am to contact them at Burnfoot station on 074 9386098.
