asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) regarding the latest figures for road deaths; and what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that the roads are made more safe.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Deaths.
136.
I have seen the newspaper report referred to by the Deputy and I can assure him that I am fully conscious of the need to make the roads more safe. In this connection, I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 24th November last to two similar questions, in which I outlined in some detail the efforts being made to deal with this most serious state of affairs. Since then, further positive steps have been taken —the breathalyser has been brought into full-scale operation and a number of local authorities throughout the country have at my request appointed Road Safety Officers in an effort to create a greater awareness of the problem at local level. The Deputy may also have seen newspaper reports regarding my recommendation to local authorities on the desirability of restricting development on arterial roads, in the interests of increased safety as well as better traffic flow. I also propose to have a monthly review of accidents in the present year.
I am hopeful that the measures taken will help to reduce the appalling toll on the roads but I must again emphasise that official action cannot of itself solve the problem—the remedy lies mainly in the hands of those who use the roads.
The Minister is well aware that the appalling toll on the road at the present time is over 500 people and that by this time next year over 500 people who are in the prime of their lives today will unfortunately be dead. Many people claim it is due to the fact that our roads have been neglected. Will the Minister state why the Government have plundered the Road Fund after robbing the car owners of this country——
That is a separate question.
No. In my question I have asked: "and what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that the roads are made more safe?" Surely the roads cannot be made more safe when the Government are plundering the Road Fund and spending the money in other directions.
The Deputy is making a statement.
The Government are continuing to invest vast sums of money to enable the improvement of arterial roads and main roads with a view to accommodating the increasing traffic and in all cases to try to minimise the danger spots and reduce the number of accidents on the roads. We have maintained international standards as far as possible in the construction of these roads and are continuing to improve the type of roads being provided. I am very conscious of the part we can play but I must emphasise what I said at the end of my reply, that the real cause of accidents is something which official action cannot eliminate. It lies in the hands of those who use the roads to exercise more care and show greater patience and courtesy towards other road users. In that way there would be a substantial reduction in the number of road deaths.
Surely the Minister is aware that if all the money collected from car owners and vehicle owners were spent on the roads, they could be improved immediately? The road between Dublin and Enfield is a main arterial road and it is a disgrace. Will the Minister not admit that millions of pounds are being taken out of the Road Fund for other purposes instead of being used to improve our roads?
That is rather dangerous country for a Fine Gael Deputy.