Vol. 571 No. 1
1027 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if there is action open to him to ensure that all cyclists, particularly the young, wear safety helmets; if he has given consideration to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19601/03]
There are no proposals at present to make the wearing of helmets for cyclists mandatory. The consensus of public authorities concerned with road safety has been that the wearing of helmets by cyclists is best promoted on a voluntary basis by way of educational and publicity campaigns, such as those undertaken by the National Safety Council, rather than to impose legal requirement with consequent prosecutions and penalties for contravention, particularly in the case of minors.
However, I have asked for a review of this policy and I have also asked the National Safety Council for the available statistics and I will consider this situation again soon.
