Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Road Safety.

Mr. Farrelly

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me raise this matter in view of all the different tragedies that have taken place at many black spots throughout the country even since Christmas. The issue I wish to deal with is the accident black spot at Slane Bridge, County Meath, on the N2.

I express my sympathy with the Garvey family on the tragic death of their son, David, whose second birthday is today and wish his parents, Cathal and Joan, a speedy recovery. The problem at Slane Bridge has been on-going for many years with one tragedy after another. This week's tragic death of little David Garvey has galvanised the local people into demanding immediate action from our politicians. As one of those politicians I make no apology for raising this issue even though I was criticised by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government this morning on local radio. Some 22 people have died at this black spot. Traffic lights were erected there about 14 years ago. It is unbelievable that a greater number of deaths has occurred since the erection of those lights. I asked three days ago for the lights to be turned off but I was told by the officials that it was a big decision to make and that they would have to discuss the matter further. Those who use that road and stop at the lights, as I did last Saturday in the course of my ordinary constituency duties, take their lives into their hands waiting at the bottom of the hill. They hope it will not happen to them, that they will not be in the wrong place at the wrong time as happened to the Garvey family last Saturday morning.

When the Minister was asked yesterday to discuss the matter with me on local radio this morning he refused to do so. I am an elected member for the same constituency and it is unfair that the Minister would consider that I or any other Member would want to use the issue as a political football. As a politician and elected Member for the past 20 years I have a duty to raise matters such as this. It is not easy to do so because of the NRA rules and regulations.

The Minister informed us today that £640 million is to be spent between now and the next three years on different roads but only £60,000 is to be spent in Slane which is the biggest single area of the county for disasters. More tragedies are waiting to happen.

The following suggestions were made at a public meeting which I attended in Slane last Tuesday night at which over 400 people were present: first, to remove the traffic lights immediately; second, to provide a sand bed all the way down on the left side of the road so that in the event of lorries getting into difficulty there will be some place for them to go; third, to remove the footpath on same side of the road and put it on the other side; fourth, to purchase the timber yard at the bottom of the hill so that in the event of a runaway lorry there will be a cul-de-sac and the lorry will not have to try to negotiate the bridge if it is out of control – the Leas-Cheann Comhairle would use that part of the road more often than I; fifth, to provide a camera on the Collon side of the town with a film in it so that heavy vehicles travelling at more than 20 miles per hour at that point can be fined heavily, say £500; sixth, the NRA to put in place a long-term programme for the building of a new bridge; seventh, the plans that were discussed in the mid-1990s should be taken off the shelf and the Minister should direct the NRA to ensure progress is made on building a bridge for the future; eight, the removal of the restrictive order on the bridge so that immediate improvements can be made at both ends and, ninth, to provide money for a walkway for pedestrians at the back of the bridge as has been made on the Liffey. Many tourists visit that area of County Meath and if there were such a walkway pedestrians could walk freely at the back of the bridge at one side or the other.

I am confident that Mr. Michael Tobin of the NRA, with whom I spoke yesterday morning and who agreed to meet the county engineer, representatives of the new committee that was formed to protect the people who use this bridge at this blackspot, and local politicians, will agree to many of the suggestions made. I welcome the fact that the Minister said on radio this morning: "I am pleased to state that money will not be an object". This matter must be dealt with immediately.

I am disappointed the Minister is not present to deal with this issue. He knows I have been trying to raise it for the past few days. The area is in his constituency and I am sure he is, as I am, concerned for those who use this road every day.

Mr. E. Ryan

I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising this important matter. It gives me an opportunity to restate, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, and the Minister of State, Deputy Molloy, the Government's commitment to achieving tangible improvements in road safety terms.

The Government is now at the mid-point of implementing its strategy for road safety 1998-2002. This was the first national road safety strategy to be formulated by an Irish Government. It specified demanding and quantified targets on road safety. The Government and the road safety agencies now hold themselves accountable in relation to these targets.

One of the interim targets fixed by the strategy was to complete specific accident reduction measures at 240 locations on the national road network. Progress is ahead of target in this area with 268 schemes completed at the end of 2000 and a further 88 approved. Low cost safety improvement works on non-national roads were introduced for the first time last year. This was an extension of the scheme operated for the past few years on national roads under the auspices of the National Roads Authority. Expenditure in 2000 was £0.525 million. Some 55 locations on non-national roads were approved for funding in 2000. The 2001 allocations provide £1.8 million for similar works this year in what will be a much more extensive programme.

Within the framework of the Government strategy real and worthwhile gains have been made in road safety. Road deaths decreased by 57, or nearly 13% between 1997 and 2000 relative to the strategy target of 20% minimum reduction by end 2002. Serious injuries decreased in the period 1997-99 by over 15% relative to a similar reduction target by end 2002. The road toll in 2000 showed a small percentage increase over 1999. This outcome challenges us because all road accidents must be regarded as preventable and all avoidable loss of life is tragic.

The Minister of State, Deputy Molloy, has ensured that a range of existing and new measures have been deployed to support road safety improvements. Garda enforcements have been intensified regarding speeding, drinking and seatbelt wearing, fixed automated speed cameras and evidential breath testing have been introduced and are being further extended in support of this process. Research into the involvement of young people in road accidents and the problem of drugs and driving is being advanced and education and information on road safety is being improved, including joint promotion of campaigns with the Northern Ireland authorities.

By reference to the estimates set out in the road safety strategy in 1998, over 100 lives are now being saved each year as a result of implementing the strategy compared to a continuation of trends prior to 1998. Work is also under way in the development of a penalty points system to track infringements of driving regulations with a view to improving the driving behaviour of those who recurringly commit these breaches. The development of a penalty points system will involve complex legal and organisational arrangements. The drafting of the Road Traffic Bill, which will provide for the introduction of penalty points, by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is now proceeding as a matter of urgency with a view to its publication very shortly.

Deputy Farrelly referred to this week's tragic accident at Slane Bridge. I join with him in extending my sympathy to the family on their enormous loss. Everyone was horrified at the extent of the carnage. The family deserves our condolences and best wishes in trying to come to terms with their huge loss. This location has seen other serious accidents in the past involving heavy goods vehicles. As the Deputy is aware, the National Roads Authority is responsible for the planning, co-ordination and financing of improvements to the national road network. I understand that traffic calming measures are already being planned between the NRA and Meath County Council to enhance the safety of Slane Bridge. These should be capable of early implementation.

The Ministers do not have direct responsibility for deciding the nature of improvement works, whether short or longer term, on the national road network. However, I am certain that the NRA will be receptive to concerns about road safety expressed by public representatives, residents and road users and that it will ensure appropriate responses are made to situations of high road safety risk.

There is a collective responsibility on all agencies involved in road safety to do their best to achieve the targets set out in the strategy. Given the tragedies that occurred in recent days, this represents a real challenge. Of course, the achievement of the targets is also dependent on the general public taking collective responsibility for their driving behaviour.