10C.—(1) The National Roads Authority may prepare a scheme in relation to the application of variable speed limits to a national managed road or any section, carriageway or lane of a national managed road.

(2) The National Roads Authority shall specify in any scheme prepared under subsection (1)—

(a) the national managed road or the section, carriageway or lane of the national managed road to which the scheme relates,

(b) the speed limits that the Authority intends will be applied to the road, section, carriageway or lane to which the scheme relates,

(c) information regarding the rationale for applying variable speed limits to the road, section, carriageway or lane to which the scheme relates,

(d) such other information as the National Roads Authority considers relevant to the application of variable speed limits to the road, section, carriageway or lane to which the scheme relates, and

(e) such other information in relation to the application and operation of variable speed limits as the Minister may prescribe.

(3) The National Roads Authority shall publish a draft of any scheme prepared under subsection (1) on its website.

(4) Where the National Roads Authority publishes a draft of a scheme in accordance with subsection (3) it shall give notice of such publication to—

(a) the council of any county council or city council concerned of any part of the scheme that relates to roads in their respective administrative areas, and

(b) the Commissioner,

and shall consider any representations made in writing by such a council or the Commissioner where they are received within the period (not being less than one month after the date of service of the notice) specified in the notice.

(5) Where the National Roads Authority publishes a draft of a scheme in accordance with subsection (3) the following provisions shall have effect:

(a) the National Roads Authority shall publish notice of the publication of the draft scheme in at least 2 daily newspapers published in and circulating in the State or the area to which the proposed scheme relates,

(b) the notice shall state that—

(i) it is intended to apply variable speed limits on a specified national managed road or a section, carriageway or lane of a national managed road,

(ii) a copy of the draft scheme in relation to the road, section, carriage or lane is available for public inspection, and

(iii) any person may make submissions to the National Roads Authority in relation to the draft scheme at any time during the period of 30 days commencing on the date of the first publication of the notice,

(c) the National Roads Authority shall, during that period of 30 days, keep a copy of the draft scheme open for public inspection during ordinary office hours at the address stated in the notice,

(d) any person who wishes may make submissions to the National Roads Authority in relation to the draft scheme in writing at any time during that period of 30 days and the National Roads Authority shall consider the submissions.

(6) Having considered any representations and submissions received in accordance with this section the National Roads Authority may make the scheme with or without amendment and shall publish such scheme on its website.]