Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received any reports or feedback on the new speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23350/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Traffic Act 2004 it is a matter for the elected members of city councils and county councils to determine whether a special speed limit should be applied in lieu of the 80 km/h default speed limit on any particular stretch of regional road. Any reporting or evaluation in relation to the speed limits in force in any area is a matter to be carried out at local level. I have no function in the matter.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of persons who died by road accidents in 2004. [23366/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Transport the numbers of fatal and non-fatal road accidents in County Clare for each of the years 2000 to 2004; the number of same which occurred in areas in which the speed limit is 100 kph; the number of same which occurred at junctions and turning points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23429/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 279 together.

Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report, Road Collision Facts, relates to 2003 and is available on the NRA website. Reports relating to previous years are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Provisional figures for 2004 indicate that 375 people lost their lives in road traffic collisions. The road collision reports include data relating to the number of fatal and non-fatal collisions in each county. Figures relating to specific counties for 2004 will not be available until the NRA has fully analysed and authenticated the 2004 statistics. The following table gives the breakdown of the number of fatal and non-fatal collisions in County Clare in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003:

The reports do not provide a breakdown of the number of collisions in each county that occurred in 100 km/h speed limit zones and at junctions-turning points. However, the 2003 report shows that of the 301 fatal collisions which took place in that year, 63 occurred at junctions. Of those 63 collisions, 32 occurred outside built-up areas, that is, in areas with a speed limit greater than60 km/h.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Transport the budget for promoting road safety for 2005. [23367/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Safety Council is the agency responsible for road safety advertising and promotion. The council has been allocated €3.965 million in 2005. A total of €1 million of this allocation relates specifically to the public information campaign relating to the metrication of speed limits, which took place earlier this year. The council also receives funding from the Irish Insurance Federation and from private sponsorship.