Written Answers Nos. 225-232
225. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the effectiveness of the imposition of speed limiting devices on vehicles driven by drivers that have been before the courts on driving offence charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42898/13]
View answer226. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has studied the experiences of other countries that have used the fitting of speed limiting devices on vehicles as a means of improving road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42899/13]
View answer227. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has studied the effectiveness of fitting anti-alcohol immobilising devices on vehicles as a means of improving road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42900/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 225 to 227, inclusive, together.
Currently there is no legal basis providing for the approval, certification, fitting and monitoring of speed limiting devices for mandatory use on mechanically propelled vehicles following a conviction for a road traffic offence. I do not have any plans at this time to provide for the use of such devices in legislation. On the more general issue of speed limiters, the European Commission recently conducted a study on the implementation of the Directive on speed limitation devices and its possible extension to light goods vehicles and cars. Ireland took the position, expressed through the Road Safety Authority, that there is currently no justification for extending the scope of the Directive to other categories of vehicle.
As regards alcohol interlocks, Action 121 of the Road Safety Strategy 2013 to 2020 provides for undertaking a cost benefit analysis for the use of alcohol interlocks as a sanction for repeat offenders. The lead agency responsible for the implementation of the Action is the Road Safety Authority and the completion date for the Action is the first quarter of 2014.
228. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request emergency funding from the Department Finance to intensify road safety warnings and awareness in the final weeks of 2013, in view of the worrying rise in road tragedies in the first nine months of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42901/13]
View answerAdvertising and education regarding road safety for all road users is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). My Department provides funding to the RSA in order to allow it fulfil its functions. It is a matter predominantly for the RSA to decide the allocation of funding across its functions. I am aware that a considerable amount of its total income is allocated to education and awareness campaigns and funding is available for this activity.
I have asked the Road Safety Authority to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to his concerns, providing details of the education and awareness campaigns that it operates, and I would ask him to contact my office if he has not received a reply within ten days.
229. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet the Department of Justice and Equality to co-ordinate an intensification of road safety efforts in the final weeks of 2013, in view of the worrying rise in road tragedies in the first nine months of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42902/13]
View answerAction 111 of the Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020 provides for the maintenance of the Ministerial Committee on Road Safety to monitor progress on the implementation of the Strategy.
The Committee met in April this year, following the publication of the Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020 and the next meeting is scheduled to take place in November.
The Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Commissioner are among those invited to attend the meetings of the Committee. The enforcement of road traffic legislation and the current trends in road fatalities are included in the issues discussed at meetings of the Committee and I will be focussing on the period remaining in 2013 in that respect.
In addition, the Road Safety Authority meets regularly with the Gardaí to analyse the causes of road traffic collisions and to agree appropriate measures to take to enhance road safety generally.
230. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 may opt out of their VHI payment. [42911/13]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for CIE and I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
231. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of money which has been allocated to improvement works on the N24 at Dromkeen, County Limerick; what has been achieved to date and when he expects to see works commencing on the junction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42918/13]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
232. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public servants in the Department being paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary and in excess of the Government's pay cap; the annual cost of these excess payments over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43403/13]
View answerNo individual in my Department is being paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary or in excess of the Government's pay cap.
