John Dennehy (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on giving the responsibility for investigation of fatal road crashes and related dangerous occurrences over to the Health and Safety Authority; if not, if he will consider doing so with a view to creating a standard method of investigation here and a new ethos geared towards prevention of such happenings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3944/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The primary immediate investigative role in relation to 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, where appropriate, road construction or surface standards, and in particular 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 launch criminal proceedings against any person the gardaí consider should be accused of the commission of an offence.

Garda reports on these investigations 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.

The Health and Safety Authority is the national body in Ireland with responsibility for securing health and safety at work. For this reason, the involvement of the HSA in accident investigation only arises when a collision takes place in the context of a place of work, for example, where an involved vehicle constitutes a workplace or where road works are being carried out. I do not intend at present to propose any changes to the position outlined above.