Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 3

Written Answers. - Road Safety.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

122 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the recent comments from the National Safety Council in which it claimed that recent reductions in road deaths cannot be sustained with its assertion of the woeful and inadequate Government investment in road safety; the action he intends to take on foot of the council's annual review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23136/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I have noted the comments which were made by the chairman of the National Safety Council and which represented his personal view. The successful implementation of the road safety strategy which has resulted in significant reduction in road deaths and serious injuries is critically dependent on continued investment and co-ordinated action by various Government Departments and their agencies, including the National Safety Council. The Government has demonstrated its clear commitment to road safety providing the necessary supports for the development and implementation of a successful road safety strategy.

In addition, my Department is chairing a steering group overseeing a cross-departmental review of road safety expenditure which will examine expenditure incurred over the lifetime of the road safety strategy.

The steering committee's mandate is: to identify public expenditure by implementing bodies on measures outlined in the Government road safety strategy 1998-2002; to provide a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of that expenditure in terms of value for money and to oversee the carrying out of such an evaluation; to examine the impact of road safety performance on areas which are not direct recipients of road safety funding but for whom an increase in fatalities, serious injuries and breaches of road traffic law results in increased costs, in particular health and emergency services and the Courts Service; and, to recommend a re-prioritisation of road safety policies and measures, if necessary, based on the effectiveness of existing public expenditure, and having regard to stated policy.