asked the Minister for Local Government the number of people killed on the roads in Ireland each year for the past three years; and the reasons for the delay in introducing certain sections of the Road Traffic Act, 1968.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Fatalities.
35.
The number of persons killed on the roads in each of the last three years was 382 in 1966, 416 in 1967 and 447 in 1968.
It is not clear what specific provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 the Deputy has in mind in the second part of his question. 44 sections out of a total of 66 in the Act were included in the commencement order which was made on the 1st September last. There has not been and will not be any avoidable delay in bringing the provisions of the Act into effect. Some of the provisions of the Act require regulations to be made before they can be implemented and in particular cases administrative machinery must be established before the relevant provisions can be put into practicable effect.
My Department is making preparations to bring a number of provisions of the Act into effect as soon as possible. These include the new provisions dealing with drink and driving.
Is the Minister not aware of the promise that the breathalyser test would be introduced before this? Is it not true that it has been left in abeyance now because Fianna Fáil believe it would lose them votes on the eve of a general election?
It was not promised before this.
Yes, it was.
It is expected to be introduced in September.
After the election.
Nobody said anything about an election. I said September.
You promised it a long time ago. We were told it would be introduced by the 1st January, 1969.
You were told a bureau would be set up. The election is not due until the 20th April, 1970.
(Interruptions.)