Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I am not considering the extension of the Road Safety Authority's remit to include road safety audits of the public road network. Safety is a fundamental consideration in the provision and maintenance of the national and non-national road networks. As such, safety issues are built in to the processes of planning, design, operation and maintenance of the roads systems. As part of my responsibility for road safety policy, I have a keen interest in ensuring road transport infrastructure and services are provided, managed and used in a manner that protects people from death and injury.

The National Roads Authority funds an extensive programme of engineering works with the aim of improving road safety and dealing with accident black spots on national roads. My Department provides funding for local authorities for the same purposes in respect of non-national roads. Ongoing responsibility for the monitoring, review and enhancement of the safety of specific road infrastructure rests with the National Roads Authority and the relevant local authorities.

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