Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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The next item is statements on road safety. I call the Minister of State.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. Is onóir dom a bheith i bhur láthair do na ráitis anocht. I thank the Acting Chairperson for allowing me the opportunity to address the issue of road safety matters.

As Members know full well, travel is an essential component of social and economic life. It needs to be available, accessible, sustainable and, above all, safe. The Government is committed to reducing road deaths and creating safer roads for everyone in Ireland. I am sad to report that as of this morning, there had been 35 fatalities on Irish roads this year. That is 35 lives lost. We offer our sympathies to the families of those who have tragically lost their lives. While this statistic marks an improvement of almost 30% on the same period last year, each statistic is a person who is a member of a family in a community. It is a tragedy in the lives of those affected and their family, friends and wider community.

As Members will be aware, the four causes of road fatalities are speeding, distraction, not wearing a seatbelt and intoxicated driving, all of which come down to driver behaviour and personal responsibility on the part of the road user. Speeding remains one of the greatest risk factors on our roads. One in four drivers thinks that speeding by 10 km/h or more over the limit is acceptable. The Road Traffic Act 2024 legislated for safer default speed limits on various parts of Ireland's road network. On 7 February, new default limits of 60 km/h came into effect on rural and local roads. Further phases will seek to implement safer default limits on national secondary roads and urban roads.

High levels of mobile phone usage by drivers in Ireland have been reported.Research indicates that approximately one in four motorists are not only checking their phone but writing messages while driving. Worryingly, research also carried out by the University of Galway among young drivers found that many use their mobile phones while driving in an habitual manner and most believe there is no risk at all of being caught doing so. This is a dangerous norm we must not allow to take hold on our roads.

Members will know that in a nationally representative survey conducted last year, 11% of motorists said they had driven after consuming an alcoholic drink and 1% of motorists said they had driven after consuming illicit drugs in the past 12 months. The Road Traffic Act 2024, signed into law last April, and the subsequent introduction of mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions in May was a systemic intervention in relation to drug driving. Drivers should be aware that gardaí throughout the country can now rapidly test for the presence of drugs and drugs can stay in your system many times longer than alcohol.

In the most recent observation study conducted last year in 2024, 97% of drivers and 96% of passengers were observed wearing their seat belt. These high rates are encouraging, particularly for rear seat passengers, who have historically lagged drivers and front seat passengers in terms of seat belt usage. The lifesaving importance of seat belt wearing is underlined by the fact that despite only small percentages of people not wearing their seat belt, those same people make up a disproportionate share of the drivers and passengers killed each year, at approximately one in five.

To help address these dangerous driving behaviours and deliver improved safety on our roads, the Government's road safety strategy, published in 2021, aligns with international best practice, EU targets and the Vision Zero ambition for 2050. It aims to reduce roads deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 and achieve Vision Zero, no deaths or serious injuries on Irish roads, by 2050. Notable achievements since the launch of the strategy include publication of the speed limit review, updating of the national cycle manual and the passage of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 and Road Traffic Act 2024. My Department, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, are leading the development of the phase 2 action plan under the strategy, which will run from this year to 2027. This plan will be adopted shortly and will set out further high impact actions which will contribute to Ireland achieving its goal of reducing road fatalities by 50% by 2030 and achieving Vision Zero.

The Government is committed to commencing the remaining provisions in the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023. As an example, from the end of March, insurers will be permitted to access endorsements on driving licences, meaning that if someone is renewing their insurance, insurers will be able to see if the person has penalty points. I also support the important work to bring provisions contained in the Road Traffic Act 2024 into effect. This Act, as Members will know, is concise and focused legislation that seeks to respond in a robust and systemic way to the trends we have witnessed on our roads over recent years.

The legislation addressed a number of key areas of road safety concern in response to the concerning rise in drug-driving. The Act introduced mandatory drug testing at the scene of a serious collision on the same basis as alcohol. To increase the deterrent effects of penalty points, the Act introduces a major reform of the system first introduced in 2002. Presently, a driver caught committing multiple penalty point offences on the same occasion receives only one set of penalty points. In future, drivers will receive at least two sets of penalty points and potentially more in the event of an unsuccessful court challenge where three or more offences have been detected. This important reform will encourage safer driving behaviours and vehicle maintenance standards across the range of penalty point offences.

The next provision of this Act to be commenced in the coming days will close a loophole by which some drivers have been able to avoid automatic six-month disqualifications through the accumulation of penalty points by judges imposing short, ancillary disqualifications, in some cases for as little as a single day.

Looking ahead, the programme for Government calls for the introduction of graduated driving penalties and speed awareness courses as an alternative sanction for those caught speeding. The Department, the Ministers and I are fully intent on bringing forward legislation to enable these measures as well as legislation that will remove data protection barriers to local authorities directly receiving collision data, thereby strengthening the legal underpinnings for access to data on the national vehicle and driver file and provide for abolition of the requirement for paper motor tax, insurance and roadworthiness disks. The Department of Transport is continuing condition analysis on regional and local roads on behalf of local authorities using datasets received from the Road Safety Authority. Locations of interest are notified to each local authority and the Department invites applications for low-cost safety schemes towards the end of each year for targeted funding and implementation the following year. In 2023 and 2024, some 302 and 261 low-cost safety schemes, respectively, were approved for funding. In 2023, approximately 5,000 km of local roads were strengthened and maintained at an Exchequer investment of €324 million. This vital investment assists in maintaining and improving safety on the local road network, which constitutes the majority of roads in our country.

Last year, an additional €30 million was also made available to local authorities for rehabilitation of the regional and local road network in response to prolonged rainfall, which adversely affected the road network. In 2025, there is an Exchequer investment of €713 million for regional and local roads across the State, which represents an increase of over 8% in funding this year. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.

On national roads, the priority for TII is the maintenance of the network to ensure it is kept to a safe and robust standard. This involves carrying out extensive analysis of the network to identify high-risk locations through an analysis of collision data and also through inspections. Last year, increased funding of approximately €30 million was made available for protection and renewal to support safety and improvement schemes such as junction improvement and road segregation on national roads.

Since April of last year, there has been increased visibility from An Garda Síochána at the roadside with the introduction of 30 minutes of roads policing per shift for all uniformed members. I also welcome that the 20% increase in the hours of deployment of GoSafe vans, which was first announced in September 2023, has now been extended to October of this year. In recent months, An Garda Síochána has also deployed three new average-speed zones in Mayo, Cavan and Meath. This technology has proven a great deterrent to excessive speed wherever it has been deployed both in Ireland and internationally. In addition to these immediate camera measures, TII is leading the development of a comprehensive national camera strategy for publication later this year, which will establish the framework for investment in the development of our camera enforcement capacity. This strategy will also consider the use of cameras for purposes beyond speeding, such as identifying mobile phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts.

Last year, the Department commissioned an external independent review of the Road Safety Authority. On 5 November, the Government approved publication of the review and noted the proposal to reform the Road Safety Authority into two independent external bodies. These two bodies will be an operations-focused driver and a vehicle standards agency to deliver services such as driver testing and the NCT, and a new body to lead the State's promotional, educational and awareness campaign for road safety. A departmental group led by the Department and comprising relevant stakeholders is progressing this important reform.

I thank the Acting Chairperson and Members for having this important debate tonight. It is a matter of extreme importance and I am glad the Seanad is having this debate. I look forward to hearing the contributions and suggestions from Members.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I wish to share three minutes of my time with Senator Joe O'Reilly. I will keep my contribution brief.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State back to the Seanad. It is great that he is here to discuss such an important topic for us all and for communities across the island. Sadly, in 2024, 174 lives were lost on our roads and that is 174 too many. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to Vision Zero. All of us across the Chamber need to work collectively to achieve and improve safety measures on our roads, and in our neighbourhoods and communities across the country.

The Minister of State will be aware that 89% of the pedestrians who are injured are injured on roadways in urban areas. Towns throughout the country have been allocated funding for local transport plans, which was greatly welcomed at the time. These plans have identified projects to improve road safety, sustainable transport and connectivity in towns and villages across Ireland.However, we need to move from plans, consultants and assessments to the delivery and implementation plans in order that they do not sit on shelves but are actively invested in. There is a degree of frustration at local authority level about this.

With regard to the planning and consultation element, towns such as Westport, Castlebar and Ballina in the constituency in County Mayo in which I live have created fabulous local transport plans. These contain safe routes to school, which have been discussed previously and about which I am passionate. It is a great concept and model where each commuter going to school - be it a teacher or a student - is identified and safety measures are proposed to ensure that he or she has a safe option and route to get to school. It does exactly what it says on the tin. I have seen many instances in my area where safe routes to school plans have been created but have only been partially funded and where only minor measures are funded for each school. This defeats the purpose of what is involved. We need to 100% fund a full safe routes to school plan for each school in order that it is done once and done well rather than done part of a piecemeal approach. This would be very well received and would be a gold standard in terms of road safety measures for those who are most vulnerable, namely schoolchildren. Instead of funding partial safe routes to school plans, I ask that we fund the full suite of measures to make sure there is a holistic approach to implementation.

The Minister of State mentioned cameras that measure average speeds. I passed one today in Mayo. They are very much welcome on routes where there are dangerous junctions, such as on the N5 in Mayo, the N3 in Cavan and the M7. We should grant more autonomy to local authorities to allow the three average speed zones to be rolled out much more widely. The US has a very good model where a private contractor can install these cameras at no cost to either the state or the authority involved, maintain them and collect the receipts from fines incurred from speeding motorists on the stretches of road. This should be looked at. It is a good model that would not cost local authorities or the State anything. It would involve a net gain because, ultimately, we would have safer roads and safer outcomes for motorists. I welcome the creation of average speed zones. They should be rolled out across the country without local authorities being required to use their resources for that purpose. This would be very much welcomed.

Regarding low-cost safety measures, improving infrastructure in our towns and villages is very important in terms of creating solutions. Councillors have their finger on the pulse and know what is a dangerous junction or zone. They are the first to be called when black spots are identified. Low-cost safety measures are sometimes very welcome in terms of the funding model that exists. However, the delay between a black spot being identified to measures being funded can be up to two years. If a situation needs to be addressed at a pedestrian crossing in January 2025, it may be the end of 2025 before the application is made, the decision may be made in 2026 and it could be the end of 2026 or beyond before it is implemented. More autonomy for engineers in local authorities to allow them to work with councillors could have a really positive effect.Previously in the House, I referred to fatalities that occurred at junctions and pedestrian crossings. A year or more later, there is still no funded delivery for improvements at a particular junction. There is full agreement among councillors and engineers about the need for such improvements. Ironically, the junction in question is located within a safe routes to school area. It would be most welcome if improvements could be achieved.

I thank that Minister of State for giving of his time this evening and allowing us to contribute on such an important matter to our communities. There have been robust contributions. There is a great opportunity to improve safety across the country if local authorities can be empowered and if we can move from planning to action and delivery.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I will be sharing one minute of my time with Senator Brady. I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber in his new role. I congratulate him on his elevation to that role and commend him on the that fact that he is so proactive and enthusiastic. He will bring the same skill set to his role that he brought to so many other roles in the past. He brings great talent and energy to every role he adopts. The two are a great combination. I wish him well.

The Minister of State referred to funding for roads. While Cavan was allocated €19 million this year and Monaghan €18 million - that represents an increase in objective terms and on last year - when one factors in inflation and, in the case of Cavan, the whole programme for road signage to be paid for out of that funding, it is obvious that we will need a top-up. Such a facility exists and happens in many instances during the year. It would need to happen early in order for the work to be done. The Minster of State has briefs relating to rural affairs and road safety. I know he will take both seriously. The road structure in Cavan is breaking down again. A problem is developing there. We could be back to where we started. We made huge progress in recent years. I am anxious that we do not let what I am referring to happen. Will the Minister of State take that into consideration?

We need an education campaign regarding the problem of people wearing of dark clothing when walking on roads at night and that sort of thing

. There is so much more I could say. It is good to have the Minister of State here and to be having this debate. I will hand over to my colleague.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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Very quickly.

Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I wish to address the N4 from Mullingar-----

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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Sorry, what is happening here? Is there another speaker?

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Brady has been allocated one minute by Senator Joe O'Reilly.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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That is fine. Sorry, I did not hear that.

Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
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The N4 runs from Mullingar to Longford. It goes from a dual carriageway to a single lane, which has created huge concerns and caused accidents over the past number of years. I welcome the funding for the bypass of Mullingar. I hope that will continue and be progressed in the future.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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I call Senator Collins.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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Sorry, I am next.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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Apologies; having three split into one time slot threw me. I call Senator Keogan.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I thank the Acting Chairperson. I welcome the Minister of State. It is great to see him in his new role. I wish him every good wish.

As we all know, the critical issue of road safety is of the utmost importance because it affects every citizen. It is essential to acknowledge the progress we have made. Across the European Union, road fatalities have fallen considerably over the past decade. In 2022, there were more than 20% fewer fatalities than in 2012. Ireland has been at the forefront of this positive trend.As of 2024, Ireland had the fourth lowest number of road fatalities per million inhabitants in the entire European Union. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our road safety authorities and the co-operation of the public. Additionally, there has been a significant increase in the use of public transport, which is a proven means of reducing accidents and enhancing road safety. This shift towards public transport is a positive development that we must continue to encourage.

However, despite these achievements, there are still numerous challenges that we must address. One of the primary issues is the question of driving licences. It is imperative that licences serve their intended purpose, ensuring that as many drivers as possible on our roads are educated in road safety and good driving practices. Unfortunately, our current system makes it too difficult for people to take the lawful route and too easy to take the unlawful route. On one hand, we have the lengthy waiting times for driving tests, the extended duration of lessons, the high cost of lessons and the exorbitant insurance costs that learner drivers must bear, either on their own vehicles or through increased family vehicle insurance premiums. I have heard numerous stories from families who were unable to include their children on their family car insurance and were forced to practise driving with their children illegally. In fact, this is one of the better outcomes. Faced with these hurdles, many people decide not to pursue a licence at all.

We all know the stories of people who drive on our roads for years, sometimes decades, on nothing but a provisional licence. Estimates suggest that around 5% of Irish drivers are unlicensed, a figure that is much higher than in other European countries. In 2023, there was an 11% increase in such cases. Ultimately, who can blame them? We have a police force that has weakened its checks for licences and, in recent years, has weakened its checks in general. In 2023, it was reported that Garda checks for drink driving had halved. After speaking to many constituents, it is clear that checks are rare and, when they occur, checks on licences are even rarer. While new legislation coming into effect at the end of the month will allow gardaí to check licence numbers against the insurance database, it is questionable whether this will lead to significant improvements. This raises questions over why the Government seems more concerned about directing the gardaí to pursue uninsured drivers rather than unlicensed ones. It also raises the question of why gardaí have not been checking for licences more frequently in the first place.

No amount of law enforcement can address the issue of unlicensed drivers when many are forced into this position. In January, a spokesperson for the RSA attributed much of the recent delays to population increases, which have been heavily driven by immigration in recent years, particularly from non-EU countries. Since we do not have any licence recognition or exchange agreements with many non-EU countries, such as Brazil or India, it can be assumed that much of the backlog for driving tests comes from migrants who already hold licences from their home countries and know how to drive. Therefore, a solution that could alleviate much of the driving test backlog could be to extend licence exchange or negotiate agreements with the main non-EU countries from which many of our migrants come. This would not only reduce the backlog but also ensure that tests were given more regularly to new learners.

While we may have made significant strides in improving road safety, there is still much work to be done. We must address the issues in our licensing system and ensure that all drivers on our roads are probably educated and licensed. Only then can we continue to lead the way on road safety and protect the lives of our citizens.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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Next is Senator Costello, who may share time with Senator Clifford-Lee. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad. It is important that we have this opportunity to speak to him today about an issue that affects us all. It is not just a matter of statistics, but is about the lives of our fellow citizens and the safety of our families, friends and communities.Over the past two decades we have seen a significant reduction in road fatalities in Ireland. In 1997, we tragically lost 472 lives on our roads. By 2021, this number had been reduced to 137. This transformation is a testament to the work of the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána and many other stakeholders who have worked together to make our roads safer.

However, despite this progress, it was very worrying to see a recent reversal of this trend. In 2024, there have been 174 deaths on our roads and, tragically, 35 people have lost their lives in road incidents this year alone. This serves as a stark reminder that we cannot be complacent in our efforts to reduce fatalities and injuries on our roads. The causes of these deaths are clear: speeding, distracted driving, not wearing seat belts and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These are all preventable behaviours and ultimately come down to one thing, personal responsibility. Whether we are behind a wheel, on a bicycle or walking in the street, we all have a responsibility to be aware of our actions and the safety of those around us.

While much has been done to improve road safety, we must continue to be vigilant. Road safety is not solely the responsibility of authorities. It is a shared responsibility. We all have a role to play in making sure that everybody who uses our roads, whether motorists, cyclists or pedestrians, can do so safely. The Department of Transport continues to make road safety a priority and the approach is clear. We must save lives and prevent serious injuries for all road users. The starting point is recognising that road deaths and serious injuries should not be the price we pay for mobility. This is a fundamental principle that underpins Ireland’s Government Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. This strategy sets out an ambitious goal to reduce serious injuries and fatalities by 50% by 2030 and to achieve Vision Zero by 2050. This is something we must strive for.

In addition to national efforts, it is important to address specific local concerns. In my constituency of Dublin South-West, particularly Tallaght, I have received reports from motorists who feel less safe due to certain changes in road designs under the design manual for urban roads and streets, DMURS. While I fully support measures to encourage active travel, such as safer cycling and pedestrian paths, it is equally important that we also consider the needs of motorists. In particular, some road narrowing measures, such as those seen on Firhouse Road West, have raised concerns. The narrowing of junctions has made drivers feel less safe, with many overshooting white lines at busy intersections. I believe it is time to revisit the DMURS standards. I could be wrong, but I believe that the last time it was reviewed was in 2019, so we need to assess whether some aspects of these designs are achieving their intended safety outcomes or simply causing unnecessary distress for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. I would also like to see more opportunity for vital input from local councillors when projects are being planned, because their input is invaluable.

Another ongoing issue in the constituency is poor lighting, which continues to be a significant concern. Delays in repairing public lighting, particularly due to issues with parts and labour, have made certain areas darker and more hazardous. I acknowledge that these issues are not the fault of South Dublin County Council, which is always extremely responsive, but I would like to see a more focused effort from ESB Networks to prioritise the repair of street lights, pedestrian crossings and traffic lights as urgent matters. Well-lit roads and streets are essential to ensuring safety, especially at night.

While we have made great strides in improving road safety, there is still much to do. Ireland’s Government Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 is an important step forward but it will require ongoing collaboration and commitment from all sectors of society, government, local authorities, law enforcement and the public to make our roads safer for everyone.

Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State is very welcome back to this House. I congratulate him on his appointment. This is my first time standing before him in the Chamber since his promotion. I am sure he will bring his skills and talent to the position.It is really important that we are having this discussion. All our communities and families have, unfortunately, been hit by road fatalities and serious injuries. Road safety is of the utmost importance to every community.

I wish to raise a specific issue around driving test centres. I live in north County Dublin, which has the fastest growing population in the country. Many young people living there want to qualify as drivers but are unable to access a local driving centre. There was a driving test centre in Drogheda, but that has recently closed. The main centre people go to is in Finglas. For people living in Balbriggan or Skerries, though, that is a significant distance to travel. If someone is engaging with a local driving instructor and perhaps paying for a two-hour lesson, that instructor would have to meet them in Balbriggan, drive their car to Finglas - because learner drivers cannot go on the motorway - to drive the route they might take during their test, and then drive back to Balbriggan. All that would have to happen in the space of two hours. The result is that most of that two-hour lesson is taken up going to and from the testing area. People then have to get twice the number of lessons they would normally have to get. It is extremely inconvenient. We need to be making it more convenient for people to pass their tests and not adding further expense and hassle.

The waiting times in the test centres across Dublin are phenomenal. There are several such test centres around Dublin but there are extremely significant waiting times. Young people in north County Dublin not only have to wait a considerable time but are also paying extra for their driving lessons because they are taking more of them. It is completely inconvenient for people to do what they should be doing, namely, get driving lessons, qualify as a driver and be responsible drivers on the roads thereafter.

I would like the Department to engage with the Road Safety Authority to open a driving test centre in north County Dublin. There are many suitable locations. Balbriggan would be a good town. It is busy and there are lots of roundabouts and other challenging features would provide several good routes for driving tests. It would also serve the people of Drogheda, who have lost their test centre in recent months. It would be a very positive step forward for road safety in the area. We should be removing barriers obstructing people and making it more accessible for them to do the right thing, qualify and be responsible road users. If they start out in a good pattern of behaviour, it is more likely they will stay in that good pattern for their driving careers. I would like the Minister of State, therefore, to consider the possibility of opening a driving test centre in north County Dublin to provide a safe, accessible and barrier-free driving test centre for people living in Balbriggan, Skerries, Lusk, Rush and beyond. The population is there. It is an outrage we do not have a local driving test centre.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to share my time with Senator Tully.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I speak today on an issue impacting on every community in Ireland but that is particularly urgent in my area, County Limerick. Every year, we see the devastating impact of road collisions on families, friends and communities. Nationally, 2024 was one of the worst years of road fatalities in almost a decade. Unfortunately, Limerick was no exception. Behind every statistic is a life lost, a family grieving and a community shaken.

The roads in rural Ireland, and especially in Limerick, pose unique challenges. Many of our roads are narrow, with poor visibility, inadequate lighting and, in some cases, dangerous surfaces due to a lack of maintenance. Speeding, reckless driving and drink- and drug-driving remain persistent problems, as does the increase in the use of mobile phones while driving. I acknowledge the work done by An Garda Síochána and the road safety campaigners, who do their best to educate and enforce the law. However, enforcement alone will not solve the crisis. We need a multifaceted approach, one that involves investment in infrastructure, stronger penalties for dangerous driving and a serious commitment to road safety education at an early age.In County Limerick, we have seen too many tragic incidents on roads such as the N21 and the N69, and on many of our rural and regional roads. There is an urgent need for increased road maintenance funding to fix dangerous sections of these roads before they claim more lives. We also need a greater Garda presence on rural roads to deter reckless driving, traffic calming measures in high-risk areas, particularly near schools and residential zones, and more investment in public transport so that people, especially young people, in rural areas have safer alternatives to driving at night.

I also call on the Minister of State to ensure our road safety strategy priorities include rural communities. It is unacceptable that people living in rural Ireland feel less safe on the road simply because of where they live. We owe it to the families who have lost loved ones to act with urgency. Road safety should not be reactive; we should be proactive and it should be a year-round priority for the Government, the councils and communities.

I want to make a point on the hedge cutting that takes place on rural roads. It tends to stop at a certain height. I have spoken to many HGV drivers whose issue is they still have to stay out from the margin of the road. They drive in the middle of the road because the hedge cutting is not done high enough to protect their mirrors. To protect the mirrors of the lorries, they drive in the middle of the road. I ask the Minister of State to have a look at getting the hedge cutting done to particular height to cover this.

Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber.

If we are to address road safety in a meaningful way, we need a multipronged approach. The number of road deaths might well be reduced from what it was 20 years ago, when there was a high of 458, but the number is still far too high. Enforcement is key. People will continue to flout the rules if there is not adequate enforcement of them. It is concerning when the Garda road policing unit numbers are very low. There were 1,046 members of the Garda road policing unit 15 years ago but now there are only 620. That is a reduction of 41%. This is something that needs to be addressed immediately if we are going to see any real change on our roads. Reducing speed limits is all very well and good, but if it is not enforced, it will not have any impact.

Measures are no good without education. There needs to be much better education and awareness of speed limits, the use of mobile phones, the wearing of seat belts, and drink and drug driving. With regard to wearing seat belts, it is concerning to see in the 2023 observational survey there was a decline in drivers and passengers wearing seat belts. Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 23% of driver fatalities and 21% of passenger fatalities involved people not wearing seat belts. Had they been wearing seat belts, it is quite possible they would not have been killed. I cannot imagine getting into a car without wearing a seat belt. It is second nature now and one gets so used to it. It is very concerning that people are not wearing them.

On the Order of Business, I raised the issue of the quality of the roads in Cavan. This needs to be addressed. There needs to be significant investment in road repair and, in some places, widening the roads. In my area, there is a regional road where two lorries cannot meet because it is too narrow. Other places might need traffic calming. Sight distance is also an issue.

I am concerned that the RSA cannot share data with local authorities. This requires legislation and the Government is dragging its feet on the issue. The Government could pass legislation to ensure information was shared. Doing so would inform decisions made by local authorities to carry out road improvements where there were safety concerns.

I want to express concern regarding a recent report on a "Prime Time" programme about cars passing the NCT in certain centres only to turn out to not be safe to drive. I hope this is being addressed. The particular case on the programme will probably be addressed. Overall, though, we must make sure NCT centres carry out proper testing to ensure all cars are safe to drive on our roads.

Waiting times for driver tests is an issue of concern. In Cavan, the waiting time is 18 weeks. It is much worse in other areas. In my neighbouring county of Meath, it is 33 weeks. When Jack Chambers was Minister of State with responsibility for road safety, he told us the waiting time would be reduced to ten weeks but this has not happened.There was an attempt to recruit additional testers and contracts were issued but they were not permanent contracts. People went through the training and then found out they could be posted anywhere in Ireland. Somebody living in County Offaly could be posted to County Cork. That is not appropriate. Better contracts are now available, which are permanent and will give people a choice of two places. That is to be welcomed. I hope extra testers can be trained as quickly as possible. I am also conscious that a tester must be removed from doing driver testing to train additional testers. That causes a backlog in the meantime. This should be addressed down the line if we can recruit the extra testers.

I have spoken about fatalities. Between 2019 and 2023, 164 pedestrians died and 1,436 were seriously injured. Sometimes we forget about those who are seriously injured in accidents. They often suffer life-changing injuries, which means they require disabilities supports or neurological supports. I want to mention that 21% of these 1,436 were children under the age of five. Sinn Féin Councillor Damien Brady recently brought a motion to Cavan County Council, which was passed, that high-visibility clothing should be compulsory for all pedestrians. This is something we should consider because motorists can get a fright if they are driving along and meet someone dressed in dark clothes and narrowly miss them because they do not see them. This is something that should be looked at.

Laura Harmon (Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. He has a great opportunity to improve road safety for all road users in Ireland as part of his brief.

At the age of 38, I am learning to drive for the first time. I am in the middle of my driving lessons. It is terrifying when I hear about collisions on the South Link Road in Cork and the fatality rates, with 174 people killed on our roads last year. I will probably be in my forties before I am actually on the road because my closest test centre in Wilton has the third-highest waiting list in the country. This is a serious issue that we need to address. There is no acceptable number of fatalities on our roads. Every one of those deaths, which is often preventable, is a tragedy for family members, friends and entire communities. We also need to acknowledge that many more people suffer life-changing injuries as a result of road collisions in this country.

We cannot allow ourselves to think that simply lowering speed limits is a panacea nor are harsher penalties for infringements of those speed limits or of other offences such as drink-driving or phone use. Ultimately the determining factor in the success of these initiatives will be their enforcement. We need to look at the numbers in the Garda traffic corps. Prior to the recession, the corps was 1,300 strong and after the recession we saw a massive drop to approximately 550. Despite many promises over a long time, the numbers have been creeping up and down between 600 and 750. Increasing these numbers will be critical and a big part of the solution.

We also need more real-time data on our roads and we need significant investment in permanent stationary traffic cameras. I acknowledge that is in the programme for Government, which is very welcome. We can talk all we want about penalty points and speed limits. They are all good and necessary measures but what we are really speaking about, and what will actually have an effect, is behavioural change. People need to know they will be punished for infringements of the rules of the road.

Road maintenance is a big issue. The Government is very focused on roads and road building. This is not a negative because the condition of many of our roads is dire. One road I speak about a lot in Cork is in the Lehenaghmore area. A project related to it went out to tender last Friday, which is welcome. I hope its construction will commence this year. It is shocking that some residents in the area have been waiting almost two decades for road safety measures.Last year, I met a mother as I was going door to door. She told me her daughter was knocked down on the first day of her school holidays. She had injuries from the incident that, thankfully, she survived and is well, but it is extremely worrying.

A lot of estates are being built before infrastructure is put in place, so we are ending up with roads that are, perhaps, not suitable for population increases. That is something that needs to be taken into account as part of planning because that particular road in Lehenaghmore I spoke about was essentially built on a 19th century boreen and it is not fit for purpose.

When we talk about road safety, we are talking not just about people in cars but also about cyclists and pedestrians and unlocking more funding for pedestrian crossings. My Labour Party colleague in Cork, Councillor Peter Horgan, has been doing a lot of advocacy on this. He is chair of the transport committee in Cork. We need more pedestrian crossings, and it would be wonderful to see more funding for footpaths unlocked as part of active travel. Pedestrians require safety too and it is worrying to see the number of pedestrians in Cork who tell me they are walking in the middle of the roads because the footpaths do not feel safe.

The RSA must also hand over data to local authorities after collisions as soon as possible. I know there are GDPR issues to be sorted but local authorities need to know where the blackspots are for crashes. We do need to have those data but we cannot ignore the fact that, recently, more than 30 road safety advocacy groups declared no confidence in the RSA and stated it was not fit for purpose. I hope the review of that will be fruitful in terms of subsequent implementation. There is a lot of work to be done and I would welcome further debate on this.

Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, agus comhghairdeas leis. The Minister of State is very welcome. It is the first time I can congratulate him on his appointment, and I wish him all the very best over his term of office.

The Minister of State mentioned at the start of his opening contribution that behind each statistic is a story and a family. I want to speak about the late Barbara Gill. Barbara, as she was back on 19 April 2007, was cycling to work with a high-vis jacket on and her helmet. She came down onto Wolfe Tone Quay, down by the Ashling Hotel. She was tragically hit by a skip lorry, the driver of which made a last-minute decision to turn. Unfortunately, he did not pick her up given the blind spot in his mirror.

Barbara and her partner Ruth were new parents at the time. They had a little baby of eight weeks old at the time of the accident. These are the stories behind all of those statistics, and Barbara was just one of them. The Minister of State can imagine what a happy time that was in their lives, and her mum, Margaret, dad, Bill and partner, Ruth, were all naturally devastated. She had recently returned from Eritrea, where she vowed to raise funds for a school, and she succeeded in doing that. That is but a small part of her legacy. Barbara was an educator, an environmentalist, a human rights defender, a development worker, a mum, a daughter, a partner and a friend.

This is just one of those stories of lives cut short, and I want to use my time to speak about those vulnerable road users - cyclists, pedestrians, and people with disabilities, visual impairments and intellectual disabilities - who find themselves all too often at the receiving end of an urban planning system that is made for cars and trucks. It is not made for people. There has to be a shift in thinking, particularly in urban policy and planning, towards people and away from the current road-centric approach we have taken.

We saw the mistakes made in my home town of Kilkenny, where the local authority ploughed a road through the heart of the medieval town, despite the objections of thousands of people in Kilkenny. Now, they are all saying in Kilkenny that they want to finish the ring road, which we had campaigned for. I do not want to see other towns making that same mistake we did in Kilkenny, where there are trucks trundling through, past schools, hospitals and residential areas.

If we look back at the time of Barbara's accident, and we think of accidents like that in urban centres, I will not say they were rare but they were very largely confined to the larger urban centres, such as here in Dublin. The trend we have seen in recent years in our smaller towns and villages, however, is one of an increasing one of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users being killed by cars.We are talking about road safety. We are doing so largely from the perspective of cars, but it is critically important to recognise the need to reconfigure our public spaces. Local authorities need to be at the forefront of that. Local authorities need to be creative. Local authority members need to make brave decisions, and it is very often the case that they do not. They need to make brave decisions about safe routes to school and about the reallocation of public spaces in urban centres, which is hugely important. The reduction in speed limits is to be absolutely welcomed, but there is so much more to be done through good urban planning, incorporating that planning into road safety and ensuring that people-centred road design is at the forefront of what we do.

Thankfully, in Kilkenny we have an access group that is consulted with in regard to road projects. We also have a cycling officer in Kilkenny. Every local authority should have these resources at its disposal for engaging with the public on road safety issues. From the Minister of State's perspective, it is critically important that he look at this during his tenure. He is a cyclist, so it is vital that we look at this from the perspective of vulnerable road users in particular. With the trend over recent years, unfortunately, it is increasingly worrying to see what is happening in many of our smaller towns and villages, not just the large urban centres. Dublin also faces a major challenge as local authorities try to reshape and reallocate road space. Will the Minister of State deliberate on that matter?

I apologise that I cannot stay to hear the Minister of State's closing comments. I thank him and wish him all the very best during his tenure.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is very welcome once again. He is quickly becoming one of the most regular attendees in this House. I thank him once again for gracing us with his presence.

On the programme for Government and recent announcements, I welcome the allocation of €713 million for regional and local roads. Coming from a rural part of the country, I know that investment in improving that infrastructure will have a massive impact on the safety of the people who reside in rural areas. I also welcome the Government's commitment to Vision Zero by 2050. In other words, eliminating all road deaths. We have to be ambitious. We have to set targets that some might see as unachievable in certain circumstances. You have to have something to aim for.

I am sure some of my colleagues mentioned it already, but safe routes to school constitute one of the most successful and popular schemes that has been introduced in recent years. I have spoken to the Minister of State about this in the past in the context of the scheme being closed to new applicants at a time when there is a massive need for new applicants. Many schools that would have potentially been eligible for that programme cannot apply for it. Off the top of my head, I can think of Trien National School and Lisacul National School in Roscommon, both of which are located adjacent to very busy national roads and both of which need a scheme like this to make it safer people to drop their children off on a daily basis.

When it comes to road safety and schemes relating to it, I would be remiss, on a day like today, not to mention the N61 in Roscommon. The N61, which runs from Athlone to Boyle, is a key route that connects communities across Roscommon and Westmeath. It has unfortunately been the site of many accidents. I want to highlight the risks involved and risk awareness that is necessary. I call on all of us here - drivers, cyclists like the Minister of State, pedestrians and the authorities - to work together to make the N61 safer for everybody. The reality is that this road is well known for its dangerous bends, for a narrow section and for the number of serious collisions that have taken place on it. Despite improvements in recent years, sections of the road remain high risk, especially during poor weather conditions or at night. Some parts, such as the stretch near Kiltoom, the Knockcroghery bend and the sections approaching Roscommon town, have been flagged as accident black spots. The key risks relating to this road are obviously similar to many of those my colleagues mentioned with regard to other roads. I refer, for example, to speeding, reckless driving, a lack of hard shoulders, safe overtaking spots and pedestrian and cycling safety schemes and driver fatigue and various distractions. That particular road lies at the end of a journey for many of those who utilise it.

Roscommon County Council has quite regularly looked for the reclassification of the N61 as a national primary route. That is what I would like to ask the Minister of State to be conscious of when he leaves the House tonight.Every accident or injury on the N61 is one too many. Let us not wait for another tragedy to take place. We all have a role to play in making the roads safer, whether through responsible driving, better infrastructure or stronger community awareness. Let us commit, as a House, to respect the roads, respect each other and prioritise safety above all else.

It would be a missed opportunity if I were to let today’s debate go without raising the following point. The local newspaper in Roscommon, the Roscommon Herald, has news in regard to road safety every week. Yesterday, a truck was caught driving through the little village of Clontuskert at 91 km/h, nearly twice the speed limit. This is a serious issue. Many of my former colleagues on Roscommon County Council regularly highlight it. I will speak to the Minister of State about it at a later stage and I would appreciate it if we could highlight the issue.

Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking the time to discuss road safety in the House. I wish him and his Department officials well in the important work ahead of them in delivering on the ambitious goals in the programme for government. It was an issue of concern at virtually every door I knocked on during the general election campaign. The condition of local roads, the desire and appetite for more speed ramps and the concerns and real fears around speed on our roads were issues that came up time and again, as the Minister of State is well aware. I wish him and his Department officials well in the important work they are doing on our behalf.

I want to highlight two specific road safety concerns for people who live, work, study and commute in the Limerick city area. The first is an extremely dangerous junction close to the M20 at which lives may be being put at risk. Motorists travelling on the M20 motorway and the M7 motorway at Limerick in the direction of Dublin have raised concerns about safety at junction 28, the Castletroy exit. This is a very big exit serving two business parks, a university, a secondary school with 1,200 students, five primary schools and a shopping centre. There are thousands of people living in the immediate vicinity. During periods of high traffic in the morning and evening, tailbacks at the junction are so long that drivers who are trying to safely exit the motorway are forced to move to the hard shoulder to join the queue to get in the lane for the exit while high-speed traffic - cars, trucks and other heavy vehicles - zooms past. It is an accident waiting to happen. It is a worrying part of the daily commute for parents dropping their children to school and creche before travelling on to work and for workers travelling from one part of the city, the Raheen and Dooradoyle area, to the Castletroy and Annacotty area.

I have raised the issue with both the NTA and Limerick City and County Council. They will be bringing forward plans to upgrade this busy junction at the Mackey roundabout and implement a park-and-ride facility in the area. However, the indicated lands for the park-and-ride facilitate will not alleviate the tailbacks on the motorway. In addition, no clear timeline is defined for the major works that will be required to upgrade the Mackey road junction. Will the Minister of State outline what can be done to bring forward the work on the junction upgrade and indicate whether there are strategies that might be employed in advance of work on that upgrade being completed? Will he also address similar issues of road safety in other areas in light of the increased busyness of all motorways across the country?

The second matter I wish to raise relates to a serious road safety concern for schoolchildren and pedestrians at Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh in Castletroy. I refer to something that makes the Castletroy greenway extremely hazardous and that makes a mockery of the concept of safe routes to school. I have been approached by the school and members of the parents' council who are very worried about the complete lack of safety measures along a section of the Castletroy greenway at the Mills. The Mills is a housing development that has been built around the greenway but, unfortunately, the greenway and the pedestrian and cycle lanes there are not clearly delineated for users.As a consequence, cars and vans are driving on the greenway and on the walking and cycling routes between the SuperValu car park and the school. Drivers cannot even be blamed for this dangerous error because there are no bollards to block access or wands or other safety measures in place to indicate to them that they cannot access this route.

I have raised this matter with the active travel unit in Limerick City and County Council, which advises that it cannot do anything to address the situation until the estate has been taken in charge by the council. The school and the parents' council have raised the matter with the developer directly. Unfortunately, the developer has not engaged and seems unwilling to address the safety issue in this interim period before the estate is completed and handed over to the school. A serious hazard persists for the 500 students, who are age three in the naíonra and up to age 12 in rang a sé, and who are walking this route daily, as well as for the children living in the new homes at the Mills in Castletroy. I urge the Minister of State to intervene in order to see what can be done to support the local elected representatives, including councillors and TDs, as well as Senator Maria Byrne and I, who have addressed this matter locally. I ask him to support us in having that route made safe for the students and children who use it.

Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)
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Like previous speakers, I welcome the Minister of State. There is an extra element of pride for me in welcoming him here because he is a fellow Corkman. I have known the Minister of State for many years through politics. It is a great credit to him personally and to his family that he has been elevated to the position he holds. I genuinely thank him for his public service to Cork and congratulate him on achieving the platform that he now has at national level.

The topic of road safety is close to my heart in light of the years I spent in An Garda Síochána. What motivates me when it comes to road safety is the experience I had in that job. In the context of this debate, the details of one accident that springs to mind. It was one of the first calls I had when I was stationed in New Ross, County Wexford, as a relatively young garda of 28 years of age. At 6.15 p.m. on a December evening, we were called out to the scene of an accident on the main New Ross to Wexford road. When we arrived, there was a deathly silence over the road. For a garda arriving at the scene of an accident, what you do not want is silence. You want to hear screams or calls for help, but there was silence. Unfortunately, four US tourists lost their lives that evening. A U-turn had been made and there were many other issues things involved, but four people lost their lives. The emotions relating to that incident, what you see and what you smell, are what motivate me in the context of road safety.

Many Members have spoken about local issues. Road safety would have been the biggest issue in the local elections and the general election last year. This is a topical issue that crosses the party divide. It is not about politics; it is not about blame. We all want to pick up a newspaper or watch television and not hear about another fatality on our roads. That is what motivates me when it comes to this issue. While it might not be popular to say it, at times I fear it is down to personal responsibility. We can improve road infrastructure and make many changes, but much of it is down to personal responsibility in terms of how people act on the roads.

The figure of 35 road fatalities this year has been mentioned, and that is already too many. What do we need to do? Mention was made of several projects, for example, safe routes to school. The authorities various schools in my area of west Cork, for example, those in Kilmeen, Derrinacahara and Ardfield, are constantly looking for improvements outside their schools. We are meeting with parents' groups and principals who are looking for funding. Cork County Council recently announced funding but we need more funding for safer routes to schools. We could spend multiples of that in Cork and in other counties. It would be a clear win if we could increase funding for safe routes to schools.

I call for visible road safety plans outside schools. We have local development plans in our towns and villages and we know where we are going to build houses, enterprises and so on. Let each school in our country have a visible road safety plan. Let principals and communities see what is planned, whether it is the narrowing of roads or the provision of pedestrian crossings or safe ramps. Let us see the plans. Let us have engagement between local authorities and the Department of Education to create visible road safety plans outside our schools. We need to fund that but, first, we need to plan and prepare for it.

Reference was made to speed cameras and enforcement. I mentioned my short career in An Garda Síochána.We can increase Garda numbers to 15,000 or 20,000, but we will never have enough gardaí to put on every road junction or at every stretch of straight road where we need to reduce speed.

Fixed speed cameras are required outside every town and village - I am serious about that - the same as they have in the UK. Studies in the UK have shown that the introduction of fixed speed cameras reduced fatalities. Speed cameras are not there to make money; speed cameras are there to save lives. We all know when we travel along the roads that when cars start flashing, it is a sign that there are speed vans. We slow down. It changes driver behaviour. We need to get serious about fixed speed cameras outside all our towns and villages.

I could speak a lot more on many other issues but I am conscious of time. It would be remiss of me not to mention the N71. To be a little parochial, in west Cork, we have the N71 national secondary route that is not fit for purpose. We talk about bypasses for many of our towns, for example, Innishannon and Bandon and the bypass we need in Clonakilty, because of traffic congestion. We need investment in our towns. The congestion is causing motorists to go onto our rural roads and avoid our towns, driving at excessive speeds. That is a point that is never really made. Bypasses can improve road safety where we put them in place. Newmills in Bohonagh near Rosscarbery where I live has seen a number of fatalities at that junction. We saw funding pulled last year. Consultants have been brought in and landowners have been met with, however, funding was pulled last year on a section of road that needs to be developed. I want to see that awarded funding this year. One of the calls we get from local media as politicians and representatives is whether we know the deceased or their family members. Those are calls I have gotten about that section of road in Rosscarbery. We need to see funding there.

I welcome the €82 million that came to Cork County Council this year. It was remarked recently that it was the highest level of funding that this Government had ever given to local roads. That is to be welcomed.

To conclude, we can do much more across the party political divide in terms of road safety. I wish the Minister of State well in his term. I am sure he will do great work.

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail)
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Senators Cathal Byrne and Mike Kennelly are sharing time.

Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber.

I will make a couple key points about road safety. I will make my contribution through my own experiences in Wexford.

Obviously, the 4% decrease in road fatalities from 2023 to 2024 is welcome. In Wexford, however, we saw six fatalities in 2024 and three in 2023. Unfortunately, the statistics on this are clear, with seven in ten road fatalities occurring on our rural roads. That is what I want to focus on.

In Wexford, we have three areas that I can highlight from many examples. They are in direct need of safety remediation works along national roads. At the end of the M11 motorway, there is Kyle Cross from near Oylegate towards Wexford town. We have Larkin’s Cross on the N25 just outside the village of Barntown outside of Wexford town. We also have Clohamon Cross, which is on the road from Enniscorthy towards Bunclody and on towards County Carlow. These are, unfortunately, the location of too many fatalities over the past 15 years. I urge the Minister of State and TII to take these crosses seriously. We have had reports, we have had consultants look at the roads and we have had reviews, but we have not had action. These are areas where a regional road joins a national road and we need direct involvement by TII to deliver the proposed safety works.

The second issue I wish to highlight is the funding that is being made available for safety improvement works through the budget for Wexford. Wexford shares a population size with Donegal and Tipperary, but in the 2024 allocation, Tipperary received €600,000 and Donegal received €535,500 while Wexford only received €398,000. I ask that, in the 2025 funding allocation for safety improvement works under the budget, the Wexford allocation be similar to that of Tipperary and Donegal.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I welcome his statements and all the Government initiatives to allow everybody who goes out on our roads to get home safely. As every Senator has outlined, the issues are, in order: speeding; distracted driving; drunk driving and drug driving; poor road conditions; a lack of pedestrian infrastructure; and inadequate vehicle safety features, especially in older vehicles that lack safety features like air bags. These are followed by reckless driving, weather conditions and enforcement.

Senator Noonan just brought it all home in terms of the fatalities that are brought to people’s doors. In 2014, I was a councillor and one thing I picked up on was the death of a six-year-old boy in Kilkenny, Jake Brennan. What was called Jake’s legacy came into force and his parents rolled it out, with all speed limits in estates changed to 30 km/h in 2017. That was very welcome and it has saved lives.

I make no apology to anybody for the new road speed limit reductions. They have to be welcomed, rolled out and enforced. In 2022, there were 155 deaths but 181 deaths in 2023. That is too many. It comes down to driving behaviour. Many people are going away from the fact that we can introduce all sorts of measure, but driver behaviour is causing 99% of these accidents.

I drove up on the M7 this morning. There was an average speed camera and no one was breaking the rules. The more surveillance we have out there, including via cameras, and the more penalties, the more people will slow down.

I was in Australia last year. The fine for a passenger being caught without a seat belt is $400 and the driver gets three penalty points. Therefore, a person will not be caught a second time. People will not break the law again.

I ask the Minister of the State about the roll-out of safety officers. I was chairperson of the operations on the road operations SPC in Kerry County Council and was proud to introduce the role of safety officer within the county, but where the Department is concerned, what role does the safety officer play?

Safe routes to school were referenced. In Kerry County Council, it is hoped we are preventative in many measures. We have a certain budget allocation from our roads programme that we can apply to speed limit reduction signs and flashing amber lights outside schools. We can personally do that through our council allocations in Kerry. I do not think there is any other council that does that to save kids going to school, save parents dropping their kids to school and save people picking them up.

Finally, we are all looking for remedies to this issue. It has got to a certain point. My children are starting on the roads now. We do not want parents to get that phone call or that knock on the door at 3 a.m.

Being distracted at 50 km/h or 80 km/h can be fatal. Being distracted at 120 km/h is definitely fatal. Why can we not install speed reducers in new vehicles? We are selling vehicles that can do up to 200 km/h or 220 km/h. Why? There is no need to have these on the market because you cannot do that speed anywhere in the country, unless you go to Mondello Park. I ask that the Government clue into this and see whether there is anything we can do. If the speed limit in the country is no greater than 120 km/h, why are we selling vehicles to kids, parents and everyone else that can go in excess of 220 km/h or 240 km/h? We saw an accident over the weekend where the car was supposedly going more than 100 km/h over the speed limit, which was totally wrong.

I thank the Minister of State for his statement and I look forward to working with him.

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail)
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For our penultimate contribution, we will go to Cavan for the roads report from Senator O’Reilly.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to speak to us.

Every single death is a tragedy for victims, families, friends and communities. However, the new speed limits were a knee-jerk reaction to an issue that was more complicated. Speed can be a factor in road deaths but it is not the only issue that contributes to the loss of lives on our roads. For example, motorways have a high speed limit and are four times safer than single-carriage roads, and that is because they are safe roads to travel on. Poor road surfaces, bad roads, bumpy roads, bendy roads, potholes, roads with their entire edges eroded, poor lighting, water running onto public roads and dangerous dips are huge problems in my county.The reason we have so many of these hazards is a lack of investment in our roads. Local authorities can spend only what they are given. Punishing all motorists, who, in the main, are responsible road users, is not the answer. The public feel they are once again being targeted as an easy scapegoat designed to take the focus off the real issue with our roads, which is funding.

I listened as someone from the Road Safety Authority jumped on the bandwagon following the speed limit review. He also placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of motorists, particularly young motorists. Again, there was no mention of dangerous driving, the use of mobile phones, texting, drugs, drink or suicide. There was no mention of overgrown trees and hedges jutting out onto roads and forcing HGV, bus and van drivers to drive in the middle of the road to avoid damaging their vehicles. When a mirror is ripped off a lorry or bus, it can cost upwards of €350 to replace. A bus cannot really travel without a mirror. Local authorities need to be funded. They are not fully funded to enforce safety measures. What is the Road Safety Authority doing about these issues? Is it failing in its remit? Can it justify its future existence to the taxpayer? Is it not time the authority talked to regular road users such as lorry drivers, couriers and hauliers? Is it not time it did something other than taking the easy option of blaming the motorist?

On enforcement, where is the Garda in all this? Is it resourced enough to police our roads properly? Is it choosing the easy option? It is very easy to place yourself inside a 50 km/h speed-limit zone with a speed gun.

On transport, Infrastructure Ireland outlined concerns about funding cuts in a 12-page pre-budget briefing document. It stated that cuts could lead to increases in fatalities and serious injuries due to delays affecting new projects and improvements of dangerous sections of national roads. The bypass in Virginia was named in the document. It was stated that four lives would be lost and there was a prediction of five injuries if the project is delayed. That is very serious. Will the Minister properly fund the roads and fast-track the major projects?

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber to talk about the important issue of road safety. I agree with some of the speakers who said that when you knock on doors when canvassing or outside election periods and ask people how they are getting on and about issues affecting them, the issue of speeding is brought up so often. This is in both rural and city areas. Given the speed that cars go, we have to ask how many people obey the speed limits. I am referring to the period even before the recent reduction of speed limits on many roads.

I am not going to present myself as somebody with a halo over my head. I have had penalty points, as have many others. They are important because, without such deterrents, speed cameras and the threat of a greater power checking the impulse to speed, there would be even more speeding. That is God’s honest truth. It is inherent in us, particularly younger people. I remember that when I first started driving, I could not see a car in front of me without trying to overtake it. God knows, my car at the time was not great. It was a matter of impulse, not that I had any place to go in a hurry. Overtaking was something one did. It is just human nature.

The role of the Garda is to enforce. It is very easy to blame it. We do so when we refer to the speed limit and say it is not up to the county council to enforce it; it is up to the Garda to do so. The council’s role is to adjudicate on speed limits and to put in place measures to make roads safer or more difficult to speed on.

The model of road construction has probably changed because, once upon a time, it was a case of building wide national roads, carriageways and hard shoulders, as straight as possible. That has changed somewhat now because there seem to be narrower carriageways and hard shoulders that act as a deterrent. We often hear the phrase "a fast stretch of road". What does that mean?It means the stretch of road encourages speeding because it is wide, straight or whatever. The view that motorists have become more impatient since Covid may be anecdotal. I am not sure there is any evidence for it, but perhaps there is. Perhaps the statistics show it.

With regard to funding streams, the community involvement scheme entails one of the streams of funding I believe is most beneficial to local authorities. In Galway, the scheme will be open again in the middle of the summer. There are sufficient numbers for the scheme and it has been opened every two years. Really, there needs to be an increase in the funding for the scheme because it is about improving safety. It is about taking out bad bends and improving visibility at junctions on national, regional and local roads. It is a very beneficial scheme and one I believe would absolutely improve safety if its funding were increased.

It is often said that if land is available from a landowner, be it at a junction or to allow for footpath installation, it goes a long way. Various schemes, whether they concern safe routes to school, community involvement, SOLAS or rural social initiatives, can assist so much in making roads safer for residents.

There is a series of unofficial bus stops all over the country. These are not bus stops that went through the planning system although they might have been recognised as bus stops along national and regional routes for 30, 40 or 50 years. In this regard, particularly when it comes to picking up schoolchildren, much concern is expressed regarding safety. This relates to early starts, dark mornings and parents parking outside schools so their children will not get wet. We need to continue to roll out programmes for adequate and safe bus shelters and places at which parents can drop off their children in the knowledge they will be safe and dry and from which they can be taken on to school by bus. Initiatives like these can improve the safety of children, who are our most vulnerable citizens. There is a particular issue in regard to dropping off and picking up at schools on which we could do more.

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail)
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If the Minister of State can indulge me, he might address one point for me as he makes his contribution. It relates to the major capital funding for TII for national development plan projects. We normally have sight of it by this stage of the year. The funding is for a number of projects nationwide. Foremost among them, I suppose, is the upgrade of the N4 from Mullingar to Roosky, a very important project for County Longford, Westmeath and, indeed, Leitrim. As referred to by several speakers, there was an horrific accident in a village on the roadway at the weekend. The N4 road safety project is critical, so the Minister of State might refer to it in responding to the many queries raised.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the 17 Members who contributed to this important discussion on road safety. I thank them for contributing in a non-partisan, non-adversarial manner. We are all committed to road safety and bringing about improvements because, as we all realise, road safety affects everybody. The statistics are about people. Tonight, as we gather here in this Chamber, it is disturbing and shocking that families across our State are grieving over the unnecessary loss of the lives of loved ones and people we know in our communities. Equally, it is a question of catastrophic injuries that can lead to life-changing complications on which we have to work with families to offer support. Families have had to change their whole lives. I begin by thanking Senators Donovan and Costello because they are right. This is about collective responsibility. I smiled as I listened to Senator Kyne because we were all that soldier trying to get home faster and beating the next car home when we were younger drivers. Then maturity sets in and we recognise, as Senator Kennelly said, that levels of speed have profound implications. That is something we must work at, in terms of reducing road deaths and serious injuries. This can be achieved by debates like this one when we highlight the importance of road safety and promote conversations in our homes, with our families and friends, in our places of work and in our communities. As legislators and citizens, we must make a commitment to road safety as a priority. As Senator Noonan and others referenced, this is about the loss of life in car accidents. On behalf of the Government, I reiterate that we are committed to delivering a road safety strategy with the goal of halving the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. We are also committed to meeting our Vision Zero target by 2050.

In my opening contribution, I made reference to the fact that there were four predominant factors in road fatalities, namely, speed, intoxicated driving, the non-wearing of seatbelts, although we have improved in that area, and distracted road use, all of which come down to personal responsibility on the part of the road user. If I were to go back to the Department and the Road Safety Authority tomorrow, I would take with me the opening contributions of Senators O'Donovan and Noonan about their experiences. What they said was far more profound than anything many of us will say. I thank them for that.

The human factors are something that we can control. The Government is committed to a multifaceted approach in terms of education, enforcement, engineering investment and legislative reform. There is no one size fits all but rather a combination of all of these elements, which is why the Government is working to address this in a variety of ways. A road safety strategy is only one element. We are following international best practice and are aligned with EU targets. All of this is based on a safe system approach. An action plan for the next two years is under development, in collaboration with the different agencies and stakeholders, with a formal adoption process to be done shortly. To support this work, the Department of Transport and the Road Safety Authority have established a new road users safety forum comprising road safety advocates and road users, representing a range of interests and perspectives, to serve as a consultative body for the emerging action plan. That is important because it is giving people an opportunity to get involved. Equally, in terms of the legislative programme, the commitment to commencing outstanding provisions of the 2023 and 2024 Acts will be met as soon as possible. The programme for Government commits us to legislating for graduated penalties, speed education courses and collision data sharing. The Government will progress this legislation to make these changes. As well as introducing new legislation, work has been underway since last year to consolidate the existing canon of road traffic law, which dates back to 1961, and put it on to a new legislative basis. A dedicated team of experts in road traffic legislation is now carrying forward this important work.

In this debate, we have heard about the importance of changing behaviour. That is a challenge but it must be done. We all know that speed is one of the main causes of death and serious injury on our roads. The speed limit changes that were introduced on 7 February, backed by legislation passed last year, are part of our response to systematically addressing the most dangerous behaviours. We will use the experience gained from this phase, which is based on the speed limit review of 2023, to inform the roll-out and timing of future phases addressing national secondary and urban roads. Again, I stress the importance of new technologies like speed cameras, including average speed cameras. The idea of having speed cameras at the entrances and exits of towns and villages is something we will have to get used to in this country. We see it in other jurisdictions and, as Members here have said, it works.The Government is committed to investing in this element of the road safety strategy. This is demonstrated in the Department's hierarchy of investment priorities as articulated in the national investment framework for transport in Ireland. We will ensure that the foremost priority is given to maximising existing assets in a safe condition. The emphasis on protection and renewal is also reflected in the national development plan. I will bring the issues raised by Senator Dee Ryan back to the Department. Senators Ryan and Maria Byrne both raised a particular junction in Castletroy. It is an important junction with a high volume of traffic.

As part of the budget for this year, and as an interim measure pending the broader reform of the RSA, €18 million has been ring-fenced for investment in RSA public awareness, education and research activities. This will ensure that increases in communication activity in late 2023 and into 2024 are sustained this year, helping to deliver a targeted programme of public interest work to deliver behavioural change. Reference has been made to young people. We have a very important revised transition year programme in road safety matters, which was launched last year. This enjoyed huge success in phase one, with 149 teachers representing 138 schools attending in-personal professional learning in places such as Swinford, Athlone, Portlaoise, Dublin, Cork, Galway and Donegal.

Many Members, including Senators Duffy and Scahill, raised the issue of safer routes to school and made very important points with which I agree. We need to do more here and we need to have a greater roll-out of those programmes because many of our rural schools are on main roads where people speed and fly past. Perhaps it is time, as Senator O'Donovan said, to have a plan that we all buy in to. As a former teacher, I know that the transition year programme is about knowledge, skills and attitudes. I hope the students of tomorrow will not be 38 years of age when they are learning to drive. I accept Senator Harmon's point that the waiting times are too long but we have recruited 70 new testers. Senator Kyne made reference to many of the different schemes and he is right that this is about the safety of our children at school drop-offs, especially the rural areas we mentioned. Senator Harmon mentioned the Matthew Hill, Lehenaghmore, scheme. I am glad the Government is committed to funding that road. I know that, as a councillor on Cork City Council, Senator Harmon played a role in that regard and I thank her for that. I look forward to working with her to ensure that the road is enhanced, improved and made safer.

The transition year programme is just one piece of the jigsaw. Senators O'Reilly and Tully made reference to the issue of darker clothing and made some good points about communication around making our roads safer. Senator Noonan is right that it is not just about the car. We all share road space, whether as cyclists, pedestrians or car or lorry drivers. Roads are shared spaces now with active travel. Reference was made to Cork City Council and a briefing held last Friday. There is a need for the Government, in conjunction with the local authorities, to improve pedestrian access points and footpaths in both urban and rural areas. Senator Clifford-Lee made reference to the RSA in the context of north County Dublin and I will take her point regarding waiting times back to the Department.

Enforcement is a crucial deterrent to those who might violate the law on our roads. The Government is committed to collaborating with its road safety partners in Transport Infrastructure Ireland and An Garda Síochána on rolling out additional safety cameras and the development of a national road safety camera strategy. This strategy will be structured to allow for further scalability to detect and prosecute offences as needed. This is in conjunction with the approved increase in GoSafe hours, which has been extended to October 2025 and which I am sure all Members welcome. The points made by Senator Kennelly about average speed cameras are valid. This is about changing the culture and changing mindsets. We are all acutely aware of deteriorating driver behaviour. On "Prime Time" recently, we saw red light breaking, the non-wearing of seatbelts and the use of mobile phones, all of which contribute to the rise in fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.

I am hopeful the actions we are taking will bring change and a reduction in road deaths. People have a critical role to play in all of that. As I said, no one factor or intervention will solve this but the Government has a detailed plan.Work is proceeding on multiple fronts on a range of road safety priorities. However, if we do not get buy in from people, we will be going nowhere. We saw it with seat belts; we saw it with drink-driving. When I young fella the advertising was "Two will do" and now it is zero tolerance. Senator Byrne is correct about the roads in County Wexford. I will talk about that with him further again. It is about ensuring under the programme for Government that the road safety strategy will legislate for graduated penalties, bring in speed education course, bring in collision data sharing; and work in a variety of ways to ensure that we move to closer to Vision Zero. What is at the heart of what do is ensuring people do not get killed or injured and can travel the roads safely and that we address what the Acting Chairperson and Senator Brady referenced about the N4 and issues other Members have raised. Senator O'Reilly made reference to issues in County Cavan about the roads there and I will bring them back.

The important point is that we must enhance our roads. We must have road safety. We do need enforcement in a variety of ways. As Senator O'Donovan said, the days of gardaí being on every road are gone. That is why we must use new technology. It is about road users, including the pedestrian, cyclist and motorist. It is a shared space and road safety is about driver behaviour. If we can have debates like this, go into our schools and if we can educate people and commit to having more people having their driving test done in a more exponential manner, it would be absolutely fantastic. Senator Keogan made reference to the issue of insurance and drivers not being asked for their certificate. I will give the House two pieces of information. On the second week of January and the third week of February, An Garda Síochána had dedicated weeks to check car insurance and driving licences, which shows that there is a plan by An Garda Síochána.

I thank the Acting Chairperson and Members for their contributions. I hope we will come back again to this matter in this House. Road safety is something that we are all committed to. The Government is very much committed to ensuring that we meet our targets, but also that we reform the RSA because the review shows that we need to do that. I commend An Garda Síochána on the work that they do and thank them most importantly for what they do for us in keeping us safer. I thank the Chair for letting me go over time but it is a passionate subject that I am involved in. I am grateful that Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, are equally as committed to this, as is the Government.

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. When is it proposed to sit again?

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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Tomorrow morning at 10.30.

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.