asked the Minister for the Environment the number of private and public organisations which are involved in the compilation and monitoring of figures on deaths and injuries on our roads; their names; and their functions generally.
Written Answers. - Road Casualties.
75.
The reply to the Deputy's Questions Nos. 21 and 22 of 10 February 1981 gave details of the various public organisations concerned with the compilation and monitoring of road accidents and their broad roles in the matter. I am not aware that private organisations as such are engaged in similar activities.
76.
asked the Minister for the Environment the number of persons killed and injured on the roads in each of the past five years and at the latest available date; and the action it is intended to take to prevent the ongoing slaughter.
Details of the number of deaths and injuries resulting from road accidents are published annually by An Foras Forbartha in the report entitled "Road Accident Facts." The latest of these reports, "Road Accident Facts 1979", a copy of which is available in the Dail Library, shows the position up to 1979. Provisional figures for 1980 indicate that 561 persons were killed and 8,204 injured. This compares with 614 killed and 8,250 injured in 1979 and represents a downward trend. The latest available figures for 1981, which are again provisional, indicate that in the first five months of the year, 201 persons were killed and 3,088 were injured. The corresponsing figures for the same period in 1980 were 206 and 2,966. As regards the second part of the Deputy's question, I would refer him to the written reply to his Questions Nos. 265, 266 and 267 of 17 December 1980. Since that date, the introduction of roadworthiness testing of commercial vehicles has been announced, together with the introduction of a separate driving test and licence for articulated vehicles.
It will be my continuing policy to monitor developments in regard to road accidents and to prepare such proposals as are necessary and appropriate to deal with the matter.