Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I join the Deputy in congratulating all the stakeholders involved in the road safety strategy, including the Garda, the Road Safety Authority, officials of my Department and the many drivers who pay heed to the messages we are putting out. It was gratifying to see the number of road deaths reduced below 20 during this month and last month, after a less than great start to the year. There were 15 more deaths in the first two months of this year than during the same period last year. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue.

As I noted previously, VRT is a matter for the Minister for Finance but I will bring it to his attention. Rural transport schemes have been introduced in some areas and, while they may not be specifically intended to bring people home from the pub after closing hours, they provide flexible services. County Meath has a number of flexi-buses which provide useful services.

In regard to the increasing prevalence of drink and drugs, I agree with the Deputy that young people are more responsible than our generation. The issue will continue to be targeted.

I am aware that boy racers can be a significant nuisance and a danger in parts of the country. When I visited Australia recently, I met officials from that country's police and road transport authorities. Victoria introduced so-called "hoon" laws, named after the colloquial term in Australia for boy racers. I do not know if we would be able to impose the penalties imposed there, which range from a fine and confiscation of the car for 24 hours, regardless of who owns the car, on first offence, to confiscation for a period of three months on a second offence to permanent confiscation on a third offence.

See this speech in context