Pa Daly
Question:155. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport when collision data will be available to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9423/25]
View answerTuesday, 4 March 2025
Questions (155)
Written answers
Collision data are compiled by An Garda Síochána in the first instance. In recent years, the onward sharing of these data with both the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and local authorities has been complicated by the General Data Protection Regulation and associated safeguards in relation to personal data.
Following extensive efforts by stakeholders across the sector, an approach to the sharing of data in future was agreed with the Data Protection Commission last year, following which a Ministerial Order was issued under Section 8 of the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 to allow the RSA to receive collision data from An Garda Síochána.
The restoration of full data sharing with local authorities is more complex and requires amending the Roads Act 1993. In July 2024, Government approved a General Scheme of a bill to make these amendments. Engagement between the Department and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in relation to the proposed provisions has been ongoing in recent months and, as called for in the Programme for Government, it is expected that this matter will be resolved in the forthcoming National Vehicle and Driver File Bill. It is my intention that this Bill progresses to enactment before the end of 2025.
It should be noted, however, that local authority investment decisions are still informed by collision data through an interim arrangement, pending the full resolution described above. My Department continues to analyse collision data for locations of interest and shares the critical analysis with local authorities to support targeted road safety investment. In 2024, the Department provided grant funding for 60 road safety improvement schemes identified through this location identification analysis.
The use of collision data by local authorities is an important input in our collective response to road safety and I am committed to seeing this issue fully resolved.
Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 108.
Question No. 157 answered with Question No. 139.