Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of actions under the Road Safety Action Plan 2007 to 2012 that have been successfully implemented to date; the estimated completion deadline for each action of the Road Safety Action Plan 2007 to 2012; the reason targets under the Road Safety Action Plan 2007 to 2012 have already been missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39830/08]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The primary purpose and aim of the road safety action plan is to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads, by reducing fatalities to no more than 60 fatalities per million or 252 fatalities per year. This primary action of saving lives is supplemented by 125 other specific actions, designed to bring about the objective expressed in the primary action.

The strategy is being successfully implemented. Thankfully, we have seen a marked reduction in the number of people killed on our roads in 2007 and to date this year, despite the fact there has been a 40% increase in the number of drivers and a 70% increase in the number of vehicles on our roads over the ten years to 2007. According to the European Road Safety Performance Index, PIN, programme, Ireland is now ranked in the top ten best performing EU countries for road safety performance.

Action 83 of the strategy is for the Road Safety Authority to report to me each year on the implementation of the 126 actions in the strategy, all of which identify the lead agency responsible for implementation and a target implementation date. Both the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, and I have received that report and the authority has confirmed that all actions in the strategy identified for completion in 2007 have been completed in full. These include publication of a revised Rules of the Road, road safety awareness events, integration of RSA enforcement activity with An Garda Síochána and Customs and Excise and publication of various consultation documents, including one on compulsory training for motor cyclists. In the coming weeks we will bring that report to the Cabinet sub-committee on road safety which is chaired by the Minister, Deputy Dempsey. Subsequently, I envisage that the report will be publicly available.

It is of course the case that work has already begun on other actions in the strategy which have a longer timeframe for completion, for example, the introduction of a lower blood alcohol level for drivers — action No. 76 — which will be included as part of the road traffic and transport Bill, which we hope to see published early next year. Provisions relating to mandatory alcohol testing of drivers at collisions — action No. 75 — will also be included in that Bill.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I protest at the disallowance by the Minister for Transport of eight or nine questions, including one on the new air travel tax.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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This exercises our constituents and is a transport matter. I asked the Minister whether he was consulted on it. I do not want to cut into the time allotted for this question but will the Leas-Cheann Comhairle ask the Ceann Comhairle to call a meeting of the CPP——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is not a matter for the Ceann Comhairle but the Labour Party Whip or the Fine Gael Whip could well——

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to use his good offices. He is aware that for a number of reasons we should have a meeting of the CPP. Both he and I are members of it.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will pass on the Deputy's views.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

With regard to the road safety strategy, we have had almost 250 deaths so far this year and recently we had a couple of very bad weekends in terms of deaths and casualties. We know each of these family tragedies costs the country approximately €3 million. Already this year, the tragedies have cost us €750 million. The Minister of State referred to actions completed in 2006 and 2007. However, they were broad and general. If he examines the specifics of 2008 he will see that he is far too complacent. Since the role of Minister of State with responsibility for road safety was established we seem to be getting worse.

Actions Nos. 72 and 73 with regard to the graduated driver licence require legislation to ensure new drivers can drive safely for the first few years. Neither the Minister nor the Taoiseach seemed to know this a few months ago. Action No. 26 is with regard to speed cameras and this has been an issue for the past 11 or 12 years, since the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, announced the roll out of speed cameras at 600 locations. We have allocated €10 million for it and have had a preferred bidder. It will probably bring in approximately €40 million in income and will cost €25 million. Where are the speed cameras and why was this not finished? It states in the road safety strategy that it was to be finished a number of months ago. That was the timeframe.

I want to give one or two other brief examples. Action No. 66 with regard to the code of practice for the management of roadwork sites and bad roads and bad surfaces did not happen by the third quarter. Actions Nos. 80, 82, 116 and 121 cover a range of areas in which the Minister of State has fallen behind.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is correct to state the number of fatalities this year is 249 and each fatality is serious and this is what the strategy is about. However, it is only fair to say that 249 is 36 less than the equivalent number last year.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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One is one too many.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I have stated that. Each one is a tragedy for family and friends. I am trying to be balanced in stating that we are having successes. The public and the drivers are buying into the process. Our enforcement, rules and regulations are working. If the trend continues for this year we might have an historically low number of fatalities which would be marvellous. Even still, 300 deaths mean 300 families who will have their Christmas destroyed by sadness. I do not deny this.

It is true that some of the items move faster than others. Deputy Broughan mentioned action No. 72 which outlines the graduated system.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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It needs legislation.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The first phase——

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Minister of State has responsibility.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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This is being done in phases. The first phase of the scheme was introduced last year with the regulations on learner drivers. These regulations replace provisional licences with learner permits. They require the learner drivers to be accompanied by a person with two years' experience and one must have spent six months as a learner before one can apply for the test. Other measures are being considered on the basis of proposals submitted to us by the RSA.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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No one in this House feels it is marvellous that already we have 249 deaths on our roads and will probably reach the 500 mark.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I did not say that.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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This is a timetable set out by Noel Brett and Gay Byrne for the Road Safety Authority. The Minister of State is missing all of his deadlines.

We do not have legislation for half of our penalty point offences and I know this matter will be raised later. The Minister of State has refused to take a stand on blood alcohol levels. Is he waiting until after the local elections? Drivers are not being tested at the scenes of major crashes despite the Minister promising Public Against Road Carnage, PARC, and relatives of crash victims that the legislation would be in place this year. He also made a promise to Deputy O'Dowd in a Private Members' debate.

The Minister of State is far too complacent about a tragic situation.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am certainly not complacent. We are making progress. The strategy is in place and the numbers and statistics are important. However, let me be honest. In five years' time I or whoever is here would be happier to report on action on the number of fatalities. There would be no point in stating the number of fatalities has increased by 50%.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Minister of State should do what he stated he would.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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We achieved 115 of the 126 actions in full. Of course we are——

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Keep to the timetable.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, and we are doing so. I can account fully for any small slippage. There will be a full report on it which will be published and Deputy Broughan can see what can be achieved and what has not.