Vol. 525 No. 2
693 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the revised arrangements introduced by him for testing samples for drugs as outlined in the document entitled, The Road to Safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24747/00]
694 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the status of research being performed into drugs and driving in Ireland under the auspices of his Department; the total budget to date for such research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24750/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 694 together.
The Government strategy on road safety 1998-2002, recognises that the influence of drugs on driving behaviour is an issue of increasing concern. Identification of the presence of drugs is, however more complex than for alcohol. A number of research programmes are being undertaken internationally in this area and the strategy commits the Government to monitoring and assessing these developments.
In order to advance research in relation to drugs and driving in Ireland, my Department has pledged additional funding, of which some £100,000 has so far been allocated, to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety to implement a two year programme of drug analysis of blood and urine specimens. The preliminary findings of this programme were recently made available by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. These findings are based on blood and urine samples submitted to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety between 1 July and 31 December 1999 which were under the legal limit for alcohol; 37% of the samples tested were screened positive for drugs, the most common being cannabis.
695 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total budget allocated by his Department to promote the National Safety Council's road safety awareness campaigns in 1998, 1999 and to date in 2000; the funding provided for the National Safety Council for these campaigns from other sources in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24751/00]
696 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total budget provided by the National Safety Council to support road safety initiatives at local authority and community level in 1998, 1999 and to date in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24753/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together.
The National Safety Council was established in December 1987 with a general brief to promote public awareness of road, fire and water safety through promotional campaigns, and the advancement of education in these areas. In November 1999 the water safety function was transferred to the Irish Water Safety Association.
Total finances made available to the National Safety Council from my Department, the Irish Insurance Federation and from other sources in 1998, 1999 and 2000 are as follows:
|
Outturn 1998 |
Outturn 1999 |
Estimate 2000 |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
State grant |
904,000* |
946,000* |
935,000 |
|
Irish Insurance Federation |
740,000 |
750,000 |
1,000,000 |
|
Other sources |
200,925 |
219,469 |
53,000 |
|
Total |
1,844,925 |
1,915,469 |
1,988,000 |
697 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the average waiting time at each test centre for a driving test; the total number of people awaiting a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24757/00]
At 3 October 2000 some 85,600 applicants were on the waiting list for a driving test. Of these, some 32,060 have been given test appointments and some 15,430 have indicated that they are not currently available to be tested.
The tabular statement below sets out the average waiting time in the case of tests conducted at each test centre over the ten week period ending 14 October.
|
Test Centre |
Average waiting time |
|
North Leinster Region |
|
|
Finglas/Raheny |
20 |
|
Dundalk |
12 |
|
Mullingar |
11 |
|
Navan |
14 |
|
Test Centre |
Average waiting time |
|
South Leinster Region |
|
|
Churchtown/Rathgar/Tallaght |
20 |
|
Gorey |
14 |
|
Naas |
18 |
|
Tullamore |
12 |
|
Wicklow |
15 |
|
West Region |
|
|
Athlone |
27 |
|
Birr |
28 |
|
Castlebar |
25 |
|
Clifden |
21 |
|
Ennis |
19 |
|
Galway |
22 |
|
Loughrea |
28 |
|
Roscommon |
26 |
|
Tuam |
24 |
|
North West Region |
|
|
Ballina |
19 |
|
Buncrana |
22 |
|
Carrick-on-Shannon |
21 |
|
Cavan |
23 |
|
Donegal |
23 |
|
Letterkenny |
24 |
|
Longford |
20 |
|
Monaghan |
19 |
|
Sligo |
23 |
|
South East Region |
|
|
Carlow |
22 |
|
Clonmel |
23 |
|
Dungarvan |
24 |
|
Kilkenny |
20 |
|
Nenagh |
24 |
|
Portlaoise |
21 |
|
Thurles |
21 |
|
Tipperary |
20 |
|
Waterford |
17 |
|
Wexford |
27 |
|
South West Region |
|
|
Cork |
27 |
|
Killarney |
25 |
|
Kilrush |
26 |
|
Limerick |
21 |
|
Mallow |
26 |
|
Newcastle West |
26 |
|
Shannon |
28 |
|
Skibbereen |
30 |
|
Tralee |
29 |
698 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the written theory test will be introduced for provisional drivers; the reason for the delay in introducing the new test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24759/00]
The driver theory testing service is being procured on a PPP basis. The tendering process is almost completed and a contract for the operation of the service will be awarded shortly with a view to mobilising the new service as soon as possible thereafter.
