Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 2

Written Answers. - Road Safety.

Michael McDowell

Ceist:

154 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for the Environment whether he has received a submission on road accidents prepared by the Transportation Policy Group of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland; in particular his views on the establishment of a national roads safety council specialising in road safety; whether any Minister has special responsibility for road safety; whether it is proposed to develop such an office under a Minister of State, whether local authorities should be required to prepare road accident reduction plans; whether each local authority should have a road safety officer with sufficient expertise; and his views on the other proposals made by the institute in this respect.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

I received a submission on road accidents from the Institute of Engineers of Ireland which has been examined in my Department. Discussions on the submission are being arranged with the institution. Pending these discussions, I do not consider it appropriate to comment on particular aspects of the submission.

Ministerial functions in relation to road matters, including road safety, are exercised directly by me. It is not my intention that any of these functions should be delegated to a Minister of State.