Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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In the past three months, road deaths have increased from their 2008 levels. In May, there were 32 deaths on our roads, up from 19 deaths in the same period in 2008.

I am seriously concerned that improvements in road safety are being eroded. I note with despair that a recent report on RTE News stated that Ireland has been severely criticised by the European Transport Safety Council in respect of our failure to implement certain key aspects of the road safety strategy. In particular, we have failed to roll out the promised safety camera programme and all but abolished the successful Road Safety Authority advertising campaign.

Last year, 279 people were killed on our roads and thousands of others injured. Based on the most recent figures from the Road Safety Authority, the cost of all accidents reported to the Garda Síochána is €1.38 billion. Unless someone takes ownership of this project more families will lose their loved ones, more people will be maimed, more families will loose breadwinners and more families will endure untold heartache. I have received nothing but hollow assurances in this House in replies to questions on this matter, stating that discussions are ongoing between the Department of Transport and the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Finance. I am calling on the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children to support the road safety strategy of the Road Safety Authority and the Garda Síochána by providing the necessary funding to support the RSA's advertising campaign and implementing the promised safety camera programme.

Ireland is lagging far behind countries such as France, the Netherlands, Finland and the United Kingdom in respect of its roll-out of speed cameras. In France in 2001, some 8,000 people lost their lives on French roads, but that figure has since fallen by 50%, with 4,000 people having died on French roads in 2008. Speed cameras were introduced during that period. The delay in this process can only be put down to incompetence. Poland and Lithuania began their speed camera tendering processes after Ireland and now have those cameras in operation, while we are still waiting for them.

I call on the Minister of State to support the road safety strategy initiatives including the roll-out of safety cameras. These initiatives will have a positive effect on Irish drivers. They will reduce excessive speeding and increase compliance on the roads. Speed affects the outcome of every accident. By reducing speeds, we can reduce the effect of road traffic collisions, thereby saving lives.

The Department of Transport put the speed cameras contract out to tender two years ago and several Irish companies with international partners incurred significant costs in tendering for that contract. The successful company, with partners who are proven experts in road safety, incurred considerable additional costs in further advancing the project. This project will create 100 jobs throughout Ireland, with 40 in Listowel, my home town. It will create jobs in Donegal and along the west coast. These are employment black spots and need every job that can be provided, but the Government has abandoned them. Most damning of all is that while speed cameras are likely to be a revenue-neutral initiative, the cost in lives saved could never be measured. I appeal to the Minister of State to convey the sentiments I have expressed this evening to the Minister for Transport and to plead with him to ensure that the contract will proceed as soon as possible.

According to the recent report of the European Transport Safety Council:

While the introduction of a speed camera system in the Republic of Ireland is one of the main features of the Irish Government's road safety strategy, it has been hit with delay after delay.

The latest hold up comes after the Republic's Minister for Finance confirmed in late 2008 that a €10 million budget was being provided for the introduction of a speed camera programme in 2009.

This has been promised but has not been delivered. I hope that in the interests of road safety and saving lives it will be delivered as soon as possible.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise to Deputy Deenihan for the absence of the Minister Justice, Equality and Law Reform who unfortunately is unable to be present due to other business.

The Government attaches a high priority to road safety and the prevention of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. This commitment is set out in concrete form in its road safety strategy. One of the actions in the strategy is the provision of a network of safety cameras. In pursuance of this action, the Garda Síochána is engaged in a procurement process for outsourcing the provision and operation of safety cameras, in accordance with EU directives, national public procurement procedures and relevant legislation. As a result, a preferred supplier has been selected.

Discussions are taking place between the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Transport and Finance and the Garda with a view to making every effort to proceed with this project as quickly as possible. In the current economic climate, we must do everything possible to achieve value for money, especially on a project of this scale. The aim, however, is to proceed with this project as soon as possible. Until contract discussions are concluded, it is not possible to indicate a timescale for the project.

We cannot and will not become complacent, as even one death or injury on our roads is too many. The Departments and agencies responsible for road safety are tackling rigorously driver behaviour in the context of the road safety strategy. One of the strategic goals in the Garda Síochána corporate strategy 2007-09 is to significantly reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries on the roads and improve road safety. The Garda Síochána continues to focus its enforcement activities on the main causes of death and serious injury on the roads, speeding, drink driving and failure to wear safety belts.

The Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the National Roads Authority, has completed an extensive analysis of the collision history on the road network. Sections of road have been identified where a significant proportion of collisions occurred in which speed was deemed the primary contributory factor. The public will continue to be made aware of roads which have been identified as having a propensity for speed related collisions, including through the Garda website.

Considerable resources are now available for traffic policing. There has been a significant increase in the personnel of the traffic corps which stood at 1,092 at the end of March, an increase of 92% since 2005. The emphasis of Garda speed enforcement is on the use of mobile speed cameras, and the force's capacity in this area has been substantially enhanced recently. In September 2008, the Minister, in conjunction with the Garda Commissioner, launched eight new Garda mobile speed detection vehicles. These state-of-the-art vehicles represent a substantial upgrading of the resources available to the Garda Síochána to address the problem of speeding on our roads. The Garda Síochána also has over 400 hand-held speed detection devices. In addition, there are several fixed camera installation posts at various locations in the Dublin area and the Louth-Meath division, and cameras are rotated between these posts.

The Garda authorities have also procured an automated number plate recognition system, ANPR and are finalising its roll-out. The new system allows for automatic in-car detection by the Garda Síochána of stolen vehicles, untaxed vehicles and vehicles on Garda lists. The Garda, therefore, will not only gain improved intelligence on persons known to them, be able to deny the use of roads to criminals and detect drivers who do not pay their motor tax, but they will also have enhanced traffic law enforcement capabilities, including the detection of speeding.

These initiatives are contributing to the significant progress being made in the area of road safety. Looking at the overall figures, the trend in fatal collisions has been favourable for the past number of years, decreasing from 365 in 2006 to 338 in 2007 and to 279 last year. Progress in reducing fatalities is continuing in 2009. To date this year, 16 fewer people have been killed on our roads, compared with the same period last year. Every effort will be made to ensure this progress continues. I can assure the Deputy that saving lives through making our roads safer will remain an absolute Government priority, including taking effective, efficient and targeted measures to reduce speeding.