Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Transport if he intends to respond to the call made by the Chairman of the National Road Safety Council for a more structured investment in road safety in the December 2004 budget, especially in view of the continuing level of road deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26960/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Between 1998, the first full year of the operation of the Government Road Safety Strategy 1998 — 2002, and 2004, there have been significant and sustained increases in the funding made available to the road safety agencies under the aegis of my Department. Overall funding has grown from a total of €11.372 million in 1998 to €22.488 million in 2004, a rise of 97.7%.

The funding made available by the Exchequer to the National Safety Council has risen from €1.148 million in 1998 to €2.886 million in 2004 — a rise of more than 150%. In addition to Exchequer funding, the Irish Insurance Federation contributes to the National Safety Council's budget, and funding is also received from sponsorship sources.

The overall Exchequer provision for road improvement and maintenance works, which have a significant impact on road safety, in 2004 on the national road network is €1,280 million. This compares with an expenditure outturn of €1,223 million in 2003.

Local authorities receive funding for road improvements and remedial measures on non-national roads, which is not included in this figure. In addition, the funding made available for Garda operations supports the enforcement of road traffic law. That is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The success of implementing road safety policy as set out in the road safety strategy is critically dependent on major investment in resources by various Government Departments and their agencies, including the National Safety Council. The Government remains committed to ongoing support for the pursuit of road safety policies.

In addition, my Department is chairing a steering group overseeing a cross-departmental review of road safety expenditure which will examine expenditure incurred over the lifetime of the road safety strategy. This will seek to evaluate the effectiveness of all public spending on road safety and, if necessary, recommend an adjustment in spending on particular policies and measures based on their effectiveness.

The review will also seek to establish the impact of road safety performance on other areas, such as health and emergency services.

The steering committee consists of representatives from the Departments of Transport, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children, Finance and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. A consultant has been engaged to carry out an analysis of road safety expenditure and is expected to report to the steering committee shortly.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason the European Commission has decided to take Ireland to the European Court of Justice for its failure to implement a road safety directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27004/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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EU Directive 2000/56 amends Annex 1 and Annex 2 of Council Directive 91/439 on driving licences by substituting some additional requirements and was to be implemented by 30 September 2003. The revised Annex 1 relates to some additional harmonised information codes on a driving licence which indicate restrictions on the type of vehicle to be used in certain circumstances, for example, adaptations to the vehicle in view of the medical circumstances of the licence holder. The revised Annex 2 relates to changes in the minimum requirements for driving tests principally relating to certain additional technical checks to be performed during the practical test. The annex also revises minimum vehicle standards and dimensions for vehicles that can be used in a driving test shortly. The European Commission will then be advised of the regulations