Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the Road Safety Authority's activities and programmes for 2016, there is an awareness campaign for active retirement groups for senior citizens and I am hopeful it will be rolled out throughout the country. Some communities may not have an active retirement group. Will the RSA have a mechanism to reach out to such communities? It is a welcome and important initiative.

Is there a possibility that it will be extended to school programmes? I also welcome the junior cycle programme for 13 to 16 year olds in our schools. Perhaps the road safety initiative of the RSA could work in conjunction with that. I became aware recently of the issue of the suitability of side mirrors on bicycles. It is worth thinking about. I do not know how feasible it is but perhaps the Minister will communicate it to the RSA. I believe roadside drug testing will be introduced in 2016. Will the Minister provide further information on what will be involved in that?

We have to accept the advent of the drone system, which is being introduced so rapidly that legislation and licensing is not yet in place. Drones are already used in the agriculture and medical industries with good effect.

These developments were raised with me recently by a person who had been in the United States. He suggested that they could be extended to the Garda force for the detection of rural crime in particular. This could be a useful addition to the equipment of our Garda force, particularly for rural Ireland, where we have extensive tracts of remote and isolated areas and people living in fear. We have seen several examples, and many cases are not reported. There are marauding gangs going around. I believe this equipment could be effectively put into operation as a resource. Will the Minister contact the Minister for Justice and Equality with a view to giving consideration to this option? I believe this is in operation in the justice system in the United States in some shape or form for crime prevention, surveillance and so on. I am calling for the matter to be followed up with the Minister for Justice and Equality.

I have noticed another phenomenon over several years. We have more trucks and articulated lorries on the road at the moment, which is great. The economy is certainly on the right track and that is good for everyone. However, I have noticed the spray effect coming from trucks when travelling on the highway to the House. I am unsure whether something is missing from these vehicles or the regulations are not being enforced enough. Anyway, there is a high volume and content of spray. There is certainly a road safety aspect to this for a driver who may be overtaking these trucks. It is not common to every vehicle. However, there may be something lacking in some of the vehicles that would otherwise reduce the effect.

We have discussed aviation and Irish airspace. What monitoring is being carried out on aircraft coming into Irish airspace in respect of which prior notice may not be given to the authorities? There have been several incidents off the west coast in particular. I presume some aircraft are carrying out surveillance. Have we any statistics?