Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the interdepartmental review of road safety expenditure; when this review commenced and when it was completed; the recommendations that arose for his Department; and the actions he intends taking to meet implementation of these recommendations. [32346/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department chaired a steering group overseeing a cross-departmental review of road safety expenditure which examined expenditure incurred over the lifetime of the first road safety strategy 1998-2002. This review seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of all public spending on road safety and, to establish the impact of road safety performance on other areas, such as health and emergency services.

The steering committee consisted of representatives from the Departments of Transport, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children, Finance and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The committee for public management research was also represented in order to examine processes and outcomes of the review for future cross-departmental reviews and to provide general expert assistance. The steering group commenced the review in mid-2003 and the consultants engaged to carry out an analysis of identified expenditure submitted their report final report earlier this year. The report has been submitted to the committee for public management research for quality assessment before publication.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made in meeting the objective of the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 and of deciding the way in which to collate and use information acquired in road collision investigations. [32350/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The primary immediate investigative role in road accidents is vested in the Garda Síochána. Priority in such an investigation must be given to the determination of the causes of road accidents including whether a breach of the road traffic laws contributed to the occurrence. The Garda Síochána is the body empowered to make such a determination and to pursue criminal proceedings against any person who the Garda consider should be accused of the commission of an offence.

Garda reports are forwarded to the National Roads Authority and subsequently to each local authority for the purpose of the establishment of accident trends and causes generally and to facilitate the carrying out of remedial works relating to road infrastructure where such action is deemed to be necessary.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Transport the action he has taken in considering the proposal under the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 that local authorities develop local road safety plans as part of their roads function. [32352/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Safety Council, in consultation with the Department of Transport, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and the City and County Managers' Association, is developing a template for road safety action plans which will be piloted in ten chosen local authority areas. The results of these pilots will inform the development of models which can subsequently be applied in all local authority areas.