asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will agree to include in the next round of premium increases to the motor insurance companies a provision of 0.25 per cent of total premiums to be collected by the insurance companies and to be transferred directly to the National Road Safety Association, thereby augmenting its present annual grant from the Department of the Environment and as a result place the association in a position to implement its programmes in an effective and satisfactory manner.
Written Answers. - Road Safety Association Funds.
842.
The Deputy will, no doubt be aware that increased funding of the National Road Safety Association was among the recommendations made in the recent report of inquiry into the cost and methods of providing motor insurance. That report considered it reasonable that the motor insurance industry should make some contribution towards the cost of special programmes being mounted by the association. It pointed out that such contributions should be on a pro rata market basis and should be made voluntarily.
All the recommendations in the report are currently being examined by my Department with a view to putting to Government certain proposals to improve the functioning of the motor insurance market in Ireland.
Until the Government have had the opportunity to consider the proposals in relation to the committee's recommendations, it would be inappropriate for me to offer comment in relation to any specific individual recomendation in the report.