Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We should not forget that the purpose of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018 is to save lives. It used to be the case that 600 or 700 people died on the roads every year. The figure is now between 100 and 200, which is still 100 or 200 too many. We have both met the families of people who were killed on the road. The Deputy knows how the loss of a loved one on the road hurts a whole family and how families grieve. It is particularly the case at this time of year when people are thinking about the empty space around the dinner table. That is the purpose of road traffic legislation. We do not seek to discommode people or make their lives difficult. We want to make the roads safer. Roads in rural Ireland are still less safe, for many reasons. Most deaths on the roads occur in rural areas. The roads in urban areas are now much safer.

The extra bus services were pressed for by Deputy Hayden and other Deputies, in co-operation with the Minister, Deputy Ross. A call for funding was made. Counties made bids for funding, with some bidding for more and some for less. The new services are now in place throughout the country. It will never be possible to provide a service from house to door, village or pub or to replace all of the journeys people could take if they could use their car. However, it is possible to provide better bus services. There was a competitive call and different amounts went to different counties. I have no doubt that there will be further calls for funding in the future.

I am glad to hear that there has been an increase in the number of Garda checkpoints and that the Deputy has noticed them throughout the country. We should not forget why they are needed. It is to check for people who might have consumed alcohol or drugs who might injure or kill another citizen. It is to check to see whether vehicles are taxed and insured. They help to intercept and disrupt networks of burglars in travelling around the country to break into people's homes, take their possessions and sometimes occasion real harm. They help to disrupt anyone involved in a criminal enterprise. It is good that there are more Garda checkpoints. It is a reflection of the fact that just last week the strength of An Garda Síochána exceeded 14,000 for the first time since 2012 when the Garda College in Templemore was reopened and we started to recruit gardaí again. The force now has more 14,000 members which people will notice while on the roads and in the streets. The Garda presence will be much more visible and people will feel safer.

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