Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether all aspects of the road safety strategy will be completed within the timeframe; if he has been asked for additional resources to complete the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18004/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 outlines 126 actions and focuses on delivery and outcomes with built-in targets and accountability. The measures contained in the strategy are based on international best practice and have the endorsement and commitment of all of the stakeholders involved. One of the actions in the strategy is for the RSA to report to me in the second quarter of each year on the implementation of the 126 actions in the strategy, all of which identify the agency responsible for implementation and the target implementation dates.

I expect to receive the first report during the second quarter of this year and will bring it to the Cabinet sub-committee, which I chair, because it is important that the implementation of the strategy is co-ordinated at the highest level. The RSA has already confirmed to me that all actions in the strategy identified for completion in 2007 have been completed in full and I expect the authority to notify me of any specific actions that have not been implemented within the deadlines.

Work has begun on other actions in the strategy which have a longer timeframe for completion, such as the introduction of the lower blood-alcohol level for drivers. The resources for implementation of the strategy are matters for the individual agencies involved. As regards my area of responsibility, I have arranged to provide additional resources for both the Road Safety Authority and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Acting Chairman for allowing me to speak.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is very welcome.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I hope all is well in Tallaght.

I congratulate the Minister on staying where he is. It is nice to have a Minister from my county and I suppose that one of the main reasons he remained in his position was to open the M3. I hope he invites us all to that, unlike the Battle of the Boyne commemoration, in respect of which all our councillors were left sitting at home.

I will specifically address road safety. Last month was only the third in the past 100 months in which the number of deaths were kept below 20. One has to congratulate everybody responsible for that, whether it be the Garda, the Road Safety Authority or the Minister. In the past 100 months, deaths have been kept below 25 in only 20 months. We should encourage people to listen to road safety advice. Some people might not agree but I thought the Garda Síochána was out in force last weekend. I was stopped three or four times, which is welcome in terms of raising awareness.

Certain people may not want us to discuss blood-alcohol levels but our young people do not want us to drink and drive, nor will they do so themselves. We cannot afford to be weak on this issue. There are many reasons for the decline of rural life so we should not simply listen to those who oppose drink driving limits. The time has come to consider removing VRT on vehicles used to supply social activities for young and old, such as visits to the rural pub. While visiting Áras an Uachtaráin yesterday, I spoke to Dublin people who avail of these transport opportunities. More evident than the price of drink in some pubs or the reduction in blood-alcohol limits, the destruction of rural life stems from people buying drink and drugs for little or nothing and then being killed on the roads.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has one minute remaining so he might ask a question.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Acting Chairman will grant me a further 30 seconds.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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If I do so, the Minister will have no time to reply.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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For €60, three people can get drunk, and take drugs and then they drive cars. Last week, the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, spoke about introducing measures to curb the boy racers who are putting people at risk in the middle of the night. Will the Minister for Transport consider three measures to add to the RSA's strategy, namely, giving the Garda full authority to pursue those who abuse the rules of the road, removing VRT in respect of publicans and people who provide services for social inclusion and funding on a national basis the position of county road safety officer? Our county has appointed a road safety officer but no funds have been made available. We cannot merely create these positions as a public relations exercise.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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We would support the Minister on that.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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A proposal was being discussed — I am unsure how seriously — to confiscate and crush the car before the eyes of the offender in the event of a fourth offence. I do not think we need to go to that extreme, but the problem needs to be addressed.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I remind Members the rules of the House provide that progress at Question Time should be by way of supplementary question rather than statement or debate. We must abide by this.