Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Price. I want to ask a few questions and there will be time later for further questions. All the members of this committee agreed that we would have sessions on road safety because, as was pointed out by Deputy Troy, we are extremely concerned about the increase in the number of road fatalities last year. This relates to a cultural mindset. In the 1970s, more than 600 people were dying on our roads each year and that was kind of accepted. Even though we know the figure now is far too high, it is accepted that there will be some road fatalities. A cultural change is needed to shift that mindset because every road death is one too many. There are just over 20 people in the room and that is the number of people since 1 January alone who have lost their lives on our roads, not to mention the number of people who have been seriously injured. This is a very worthwhile exercise but the outcome of it is what is important. It is probably very dangerous to focus on one particular area over another. As a committee, we are trying to get an all-encompassing approach and to explore everything that can be done. My view is that not enough is being done across the board on this matter.

I have a few questions for the members of An Garda Síochána. I note the number of members in the Garda traffic corps in the south region. The figure represents just under 20% of the current total membership of the corps. As I recall from a meeting at which representatives of the Road Safety Authority in attendance three or four weeks ago, the number of road fatalities in the Munster area is much higher than elsewhere. I asked if there is a correlation between the number of road fatalities that occur and the number of Garda traffic corps members deployed in an area. Does the southern region comprise the six counties of Munster or is any particular county excluded?