Transport Committee to discuss road safety issues with State agencies

Chairman of the Committee on Transport, Frank Fahey, TD, said: “Road safety continues to be one of the nation's most serious public health issues and affects all road users, whether they drive, walk, cycle or use public transport.

According to the latest figures, road deaths were at the lowest level last year since records began. A total of 212 people were killed on Irish roads in 2010 compared to 238 in 2009. To put this in context, some 396 people lost their lives on Irish roads in 2005.

Despite progress made in improving road safety and reducing deaths on roads, we cannot afford to be complacent in dealing with this issue. Following on from our meeting on 30 June 2010 with the Farren, Gallagher and Keane families, each of whom tragically lost daughters as a result of accidents on Irish roads, we agreed to call all agencies with interest in road safety to appear before the Committee. We are pleased that officials from the Department of Transport, the National Roads Authority, the Gardai and the Road Safety Authority will attend tomorrow’s meeting.

It will provide the Committee with an opportunity to get each agency’s perspective on road safety issues and examine what progress is being made on co-operation between various bodies to improve road safety and discuss what initiatives are being undertaken to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”

This meeting will take place in Committee Room 1, Leinster House at 3.45pm tomorrow, Wednesday, 12 January.

This Committee can be viewed on-line at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551