The Government Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 anticipates the introduction, subject to legal advice, of rehabilitation and driving awareness courses as court-based sentencing options for specific offenders (Action No 107, due Q1 2015).
I understand that such courses would be broadly similar in style and content to those currently offered by the Pro-Social Driving Programme in County Donegal. As the Agency charged with promoting road safety in Ireland, the Road safety Authority has responsibility in the first instance for determining a proposed approach to introducing courses on a national basis and to assess any legal issues arising.
In accordance with national and EU legislation, any funding of such programmes across the State would have to be the subject of an open procurement procedure. For this reason the RSA has indicated that it is not in a position to provide direct funding for the Pro-Social Driving Programme in Co. Donegal.
I understand that the RSA has been supportive of the Programme and will continue to liaise with them through regular meetings, sharing of research and updates on RSA educational material and programmes.
The Deputy will understand that as the initiative in Donegal has not been led or funded by the by the State I am not in a position to report on the detail of its operations.
