Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 11: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the large number of learner drivers being caught without an accompanying driver; the contact he has had with the Road Safety Authority to explore policy proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32958/08]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The driver licensing regulations, which were made in October 2007, represented the first step in the fundamental reform of the arrangements for the formation and licensing of learner drivers. The replacement of the provisional licence with the learner permit was designed to emphasise the fact that extra caution and supervision are required when drivers are in the learning phase of driving. The regulations apply consistent rules to learner drivers in so far as all such drivers must now be accompanied by holders of full licences while driving. Since 30 June last, all learner drivers must be accompanied by a person who has held a full driving licence for at least two years. Prior to that, holders of a second provisional licence were in the unique position of being allowed to drive unaccompanied. Provisional licence holders on their first, third and subsequent licences had to be accompanied by a person with a full driving licence, with no minimum period specified. The reform of the accompanying rule for learner drivers is an important element of the 2007-12 road safety strategy. The enforcement of the accompanying rule, like all road safety regulations, is a matter for the Garda Síochána. In recent weeks, the force has indicated that the rule is being actively enforced. I have not discussed this issue with the Road Safety Authority recently. I do not have any additional policy proposals on the matter.

The recent changes which were made to the learner driver licensing rules are beneficial for road safety. I am pleased that the law is being enforced and that the number of road deaths is continuing to fall. There have been 219 fatalities so far this year, sadly. That figure is 32 lower than the figure for the first nine months of last year, however. The number of fatalities in the three months since I introduced the new provisions is 74, which represents a dramatic decrease. There were 87 fatalities in the corresponding period last year.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In the period between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2007, there was just one month in which the number of road fatalities was lower than 20. There have already been four such months in 2008. As Fine Gael's spokesman on road safety, I congratulate everyone, including the Ministers and Ministers of State and the officials from the Road Safety Authority, who contributed to this decrease. Long may it continue. I hope there will be fewer than 20 road fatalities every month by the time the Minister for Transport leaves office. I am sure he is not going to Europe and that he will stay with us for the next four years. I do not believe what I see in the newspapers in that regard. I congratulate everyone involved in the welcome decline in road deaths throughout the country. It has not happened by chance. Decisions had to be made and laws had to be implemented. While the figures are decreasing, there is further room for improvement.

There were 18 fatalities on our roads in September. I visited the home of one of those victims before I came to the House this morning and it brought me back down to earth after last night's events. A 23 year old man, Mr. Galligan, was killed. His two week old child was sitting beside his coffin before it left the house. That brought me down to earth and back to my own brief. I am not too worried about other things.

I reiterate that while we are moving in the right direction, there is room for improvement. I would like the Minister to consider a few proposals. The Joint Committee on Transport is proposing a joint approach in this regard. It has asked Mr. Noel Brett of the Road Safety Authority to pursue the possibility of developing off-road training centres throughout the country. As Fine Gael's spokesman on road safety, I brought this idea to the schools three years ago and it has become a reality in County Kildare. I have met Mr. Brett and several other people from counties like Kerry, Wexford and Galway, and some of them do not seem to want to take the steps necessary to develop this idea. Motorcyclists and lorry drivers are legally required to go to training centres, but ordinary motorists do not have to do so, for some unknown reason. I ask the Minister and the Ministers of State to attend the meeting of the joint committee at which this matter will be discussed.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Deputy McEntee for his favourable comments. I am sure those in the Road Safety Authority and the Department who have been dealing with this matter for some years will be heartened by the Deputy's comments. While a single fatality is one too many, the reduction of 32 in this year's number of fatalities is great. We would like to think we could achieve a similar reduction every year, but we know that these figures tend to go up and down. The important thing is to try to secure a consistent trend. As I have not been in the Department a wet day, I cannot claim any of the credit for the recent improvement in this area.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister of State has been asleep for a few weeks.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Having said that, I am heartened by Deputy McEntee's comments. I agree that there is still huge room for improvement in the number of fatalities. As the five-year strategy is implemented, I hope we can meet our target of having fewer than 20 fatalities every month. I accept that the Deputy wishes to raise certain issue with Mr. Noel Brett. Perhaps it will be appropriate to do so when Mr. Brett attends a meeting of the joint committee.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Full-time road safety officers have been appointed in just four or five counties. The appointment of more officers would be helpful. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, will agree that the appointment of Mr. Michael Finnegan as the road safety officer for County Meath has had a serious impact throughout the county. He has made it his business to visit every school throughout the county and he has changed the speed limits outside them. Traffic calming measures have been put in place and if possible lights have also been put in place. Will the Government make it a priority to insist that in every county a person is appointed full time and not part time as a road safety officer?

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We will encourage local authorities to do so. I agree that education is a major part of the strategy dealing with young people. It may not do much for short-term figures but if young people can be reached and made aware of the dangers it is beneficial. I support all of Deputy McEntee's suggestions.