Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Munster for her question. I presume she is referring to a statement I made at a Road Safety Authority Garda event recently.

Although Ireland, as of the latest available data, for 2014, is now one of the better-performing EU countries in terms of road safety, there is no room for complacency. It is important that we continually evaluate our performance with a view to delivering the best possible outcomes. The Government and the Road Safety Authority have in the past adopted a highly ambitious vision for road safety in Ireland for the period 2013-20 in the current road safety strategy. Progress has already been achieved since Ireland first begun to pursue a strategic approach to road safety in 1998. In the last ten years to the end of 2015, road fatalities were reduced by 58%, from 369 deaths in 2005 to 166 in 2015, our second safest year on record. The stark reality, however, is that each one of those deaths is one too many.

While the RSA has overall responsibility for the strategy, its implementation is overseen by a high level ministerial group which is chaired by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The next meeting of the group is on 27 June and I plan to discuss what action we can take to reverse the unwelcome increase in road fatalities this year which has seen the number rise by 16 for the same period last year. A mid-term review of the strategy will also take place this year. I intend to ensure the review will be used to maintain progress and that the strategy is still fit for purpose.

While highly visible enforcement by An Garda Síochána is important and encourages better road safety behaviour, it is equally important that each of us, as a road user, whether it be as a driver, cyclist or pedestrian, take seriously our personal responsibility to reduce the senseless waste of life on the roads. It is important that we do not rest on our laurels. Some of the road safety figures that have emerged recently are alarming.

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