Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the success of Operation Lifesaver for the Christmas and new year period; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of road deaths recorded during this period is back to the level attained before the introduction of penalty points; if he has new initiatives in this regard for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4762/05]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the success of the Government's road safety strategy in view of figures showing that road deaths rose in 2004 for the first time in a number of years; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland has moved above the international best practice level with regard to the average monthly number of road deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4796/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 167 together.

The Government strongly pursued the implementation of its first strategy for road safety 1998-2002. The strategy prioritised a systematic and co-ordinated set of measures for preventing and reducing road accidents.

By the end of the period of the first strategy almost all the measures set out were either fully or partially implemented. During the intervening period between the completion of the first strategy and the introduction of the new strategy, my Department and all the agencies concerned with the implementation of road safety measures ensured that the successful measures brought forward under the road to safety continued to be implemented.

The primary target of the first road safety strategy was to achieve a 20% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries, by the end of 2002 compared with 1997 levels. This target was achieved in the case of road deaths and was surpassed in the case of serious injuries.

Unfortunately, the number of road deaths in 2004 increased compared to the previous year, when we experienced the lowest number of road deaths in 40 years. The increase experienced in 2004 is a cause for concern. However, this should be considered against the background of significant reductions in road deaths in recent years. It should be noted that the number of road deaths in 2004 is the third lowest figure since 1998, the first full year of the road safety strategy.

The new road safety strategy 2004-06 outlines a range of issues that it is intended will be pursued over that period. In overall terms, measures will continue to focus on the areas of education, enforcement, engineering and legislation and will target the key areas of speeding, driving while intoxicated and sea-belt wearing.

The primary target of the new Government strategy on road safety is to realise a 25% reduction in road collision fatalities by the end of 2006 over the average annual number of fatalities in the 1998 to 2003 period. Achievement of the target will result in no more than 300 deaths per annum by the end of the period of the strategy. This is a very demanding target and its realisation would be a very welcome achievement. My Department, the other Departments and agencies involved in the pursuit of road safety policies will continue to positively promote initiatives aimed at meeting that target. I take particular encouragement in the recent announcement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of the establishment of the traffic corps and the enhancement of enforcement resources this will achieve.

The overall aim of our road safety policy is to bring our record more into line with experience in the better performing states in the EU and meeting the target established in the road safety strategy will also assist in the achievement of the longer term EU target of a 50% reduction in road deaths across the EU by 2010.

The enforcement of road traffic legislation, including the implementation of Operation Lifesaver is a matter for the Garda Síochána. The number of road deaths increased over the Christmas and new year period in 2004 compared with 2003 and 2002, when a sharp reduction was experienced immediately after the introduction of penalty points. However, the number of deaths experienced during that period has not reached levels which were regularly experienced before the introduction of penalty points. Between 1998 and 2001, the average number of road deaths in November and December was 36 per month. Since the introduction of the penalty point system, the average number of deaths during those months was 27.

Comparisons with the best performing countries in the EU can be made by examining the number of road deaths per 1,000,000 population for 2002, the most recent year for which comparisons are available. The road fatality rate in Ireland in 2002 was 96 per 1 million population, which placed Ireland in seventh place in the European Union, of the 15 member states. The best performing countries are the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands. The fatality rate in the UK, Sweden, and the Netherlands is 61, 60 and 61 fatalities per 1,000,000 population, respectively.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the concerns of local people in Louth over the fact that an area, which has been designated a high accident location by the National Roads Authority between the Dundalk by-pass and the Border, has a speed limit of 100 km/h; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4807/05]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent of consultation between local authorities and the NRA on the designation of speed limits in high accident locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4806/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 162.

The Road Traffic Act 2004 establishes that the default speed limit on national roads in rural areas is 100 km/h. This provision came into force on 20 January 2005.

It is a matter for each county or city council to determine whether the default speed limit at any particular location should be replaced through the deployment of a special speed limit. Such determinations are made through the making of special speed limit by-laws by the elected members of the council. Such by-laws are made following consultation with the Garda Síochána and urban authorities in a county and, in respect of proposals relating to national roads and motorways, the consent, in writing, of the National Roads Authority must be obtained to any changes proposed.