Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Over the years we have debated road deaths and carnage and their causes and all possible measures to improve road safety have been proposed. It is strange, therefore, that the National Roads Authority, NRA, has decided to object to the provision of off-road facilities on new road projects. It has joined groups like An Taisce, Dúchas and others, in objecting to improved infrastructure.

The NRA has stated that it has a strategy of improving signage to direct trucks and other vehicles off main roads and into towns and villages. This seems to be contrary to the original idea behind new and improved road structures bypassing such population centres. I ask the Leader to urge the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to intercede immediately and request the NRA to conform with all other European countries in providing off-road stoppage points for services and rest. The authority has said that Ireland is not big enough for such facilities. However, many trucks there are fitted with devices to measure hours of driving and if one examines the road death statistics, many are caused by articulated trucks, driver tiredness and related problems. I urge the Leader to invite the Minister to the House to indicate that he will discuss the provision of off-road facilities with the NRA and ask it to move away from the negative action it is taking by objecting to service stations, which would be required to go through the normal planning procedures.