Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 October 2016
233. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a report into a fatal collision (details supplied) is not acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28915/16]
View answerAs I advised the Deputy in a previous question relating to this issue, the preliminary findings of the feasibility study carried out by my Department under Action 94 of the 2013-2020 Road Safety Strategy, on whether a separate engineering inspectorate should carry out a detailed engineering investigation following a fatal collision, found that there was no apparent advantage to this. Those preliminary findings are based on the fact that Ireland's post-collision investigations since the introduction of the Garda Forensic Collision Team, compares very favourably with best practices in other countries.
Since its establishment in 2007, the Garda Forensic Collision Team closes a road following a fatal or serious injury collision, and undertakes a detailed investigation in respect of all relevant matters in relation to the collision and the location. There are in excess of 40 Garda trained forensic collision specialists, with at least one officer based in each Garda division around the country who have been attending the scene of all fatal accidents and collisions where victims have suffered serious injuries which could result in death since 2007.
I intend to finalise the review process under the Strategy Action, once the consultation process with all of the key stakeholders involved in carrying out the study has been completed, in the coming months.
