Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date in 2005 that has been made in developing drug recognition programmes for doctors and gardaí as provided under the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006. [32363/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In September 2004 the director of the medical bureau of road safety and head of forensic medicine at University College, Dublin commenced teaching a postgraduate course in the higher diploma in forensic medicine at the university's faculty of medicine. This course includes teaching on drugs, alcohol and driving including drug recognition. The first cohort of doctors has completed the course and will graduate formally in December 2005.

Preliminary discussions have also been held in 2005 between the Garda national traffic bureau, the medical bureau of road safety and the department of forensic medicine at University College, Dublin with a view to the training of gardaí in the recognition of driving under the influence of drugs.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Transport the action he has taken to date in 2005 in pursuing the introduction of a scheme for testing imported vehicles before registration as promised under the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006. [32364/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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This issue is referred to in the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 and the strategy runs to 2006.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Transport the action he has taken to date in 2005 in making light commercial vehicles liable to roadworthiness tests at the same frequency as other classes, as promised under the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006. [32365/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment to make light goods vehicles liable to roadworthiness testing tested at the same frequency as other classes of commercial vehicles was implemented by way of the European Communities (Vehicle Testing) (Amendment) Regulations 2004.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Transport his decision in respect of the possibility of introducing a road worthiness test for motorcyclists; and the action he proposes to take. [32366/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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This issue is referred to in the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 and the strategy runs to 2006.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Transport the action he has taken to revise standards for large PSVs in line with the buses directive, as provided for in the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006. [32367/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Directive 2001/85/EC concerns the type approval of new buses. I am advised it is intended to transpose the directive into Irish law as soon as practicable.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date in 2005 he has made in investigating opportunities to exploit intelligent transport systems and the emergence of electronic birth certificates for vehicles for road safety, as proposed in the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006. [32368/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The focus to date in progressing the vehicle-related measures contained in the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 has been on having light goods vehicles roadworthiness tested at the same frequency as other categories of commercial vehicles and on the possible introduction of a maximum height limit for vehicles. The question of vehicle-related intelligent transport measures will be considered in the context of the development of a ITS strategy for my Department. Such a strategy is provided for in the Department's statement of strategy 2005-2007. The introduction of electronic birth certificates for vehicles would have to be pursued in collaboration with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government which have responsibility for vehicle registration matters.