Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Transport his view on the recent report by the British Vehicle and Operator Services Agency that up to 55 per cent of Irish registered vehicles, including public service vehicles, travelling to the UK are in breach of safety regulations; the explanation for the discrepancy between the number of detections in Ireland and in the UK in view of the similarity of the regulatory standards; and the response he will make to VOSA's report. [12715/07]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of funding provided to the Road Safety Authority for the enforcement of standards on heavy goods vehicles; his policy in respect of increasing this funding in future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12640/07]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport his views in relation to the situation where many Irish heavy goods vehicles inspected in the UK are failing to meet UK safety standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12693/07]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will introduce primary or secondary legislation to set higher standards for the testing of HGVs in view of the very high percentage of Irish trucks found to be in breach of standards in the UK. [12639/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 69, 105 and 107 together.

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 responsibility for matters relating to vehicle standards has passed to the Road Safety Authority.

The Road Safety Authority has advised my Department that while it has not been provided with the report in question by the UK authorities it is aware of the situation relating to the performance of Irish vehicles inspected by the UK Vehicle Operating Standards Agency (VOSA) for compliance with vehicle standards requirements.

Insofar as improving vehicles standards and enforcement in this State is concerned, the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 strengthens the institutional framework for improving enforcement levels for vehicle and driver legislation and for increasing cooperation with the Garda Síochána, which has responsibility for enforcement of road traffic law, including vehicle standards. The Road Safety Authority has now taken over responsibility for matters relating to vehicle standards, roadworthiness testing and enforcement of drivers hours, tachograph and licensing regulations. The Road Safety Authority is putting in place the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate and in that regard four (4) vehicle testers have been recruited. The addition of these testers will significantly strengthen the capacity of the Authority in relation to vehicle standards and it is the intention to provide further resources for that area. It is a priority for the Road Safety Authority in conjunction with the Garda Síochána to increase and enhance the arrangements for enforcement of vehicle standards.

In August 2006 the Road Safety Authority engaged consultants to conduct a fundamental review of the scheme of the compulsory periodic roadworthiness testing of goods vehicles and buses. My Department has been informed by the Authority that it has received the report from the consultants and that it is being examined by the Authority. I expect to receive the report and recommendations from the Road Safety Authority shortly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will take steps to enhance safety on the motorways with particular reference to procedures to be followed such as early warning in the event of accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12625/07]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the measures that are in place to deter the type of motorway pile-up that occurred on 27 March 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12721/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Transport the efforts made to enhance and improve motorway safety in bad driving conditions with particular reference to visibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13005/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 86 and 485 together.

I would like, at the outset, to extend my sympathy to the family of the person killed and to those who were injured during the incident on 27 March. Indeed, all victims of road traffic accidents and their families have our sympathy.

Unfortunately, driver behaviour, particularly in relation to inappropriate speeds in foggy conditions, has been suggested as one of the main contributors to the particular events of 27th March.

Drivers must take responsibility for their own behaviour on our roads. Notwithstanding any maximum speed limit that may be in force on any particular public road, the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997 provide a general obligation on drivers to ensure that a vehicle is not driven at a speed exceeding that which will enable a driver to bring it to a halt within the distance which the driver can see to be clear. This includes the requirement that drivers should also maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them so as that they can pull up safely if the vehicle in front slows down or stops suddenly.

The majority of offences committed on our roads relate primarily to the behaviour of drivers. Hence, the focus of the national Road Safety Strategy (2004-2006), which has just come to an end, was on changing attitudes and behaviour on our roads through a range of measures.

Significant initiatives identified in the Strategy that have been realised to date include the introduction of a new system of metric speed limits, the further extension of the operation of the penalty points and fixed charge systems from April 2006, the establishment of the Road Safety Authority and the Garda Traffic Corps. The Corps provides the basis for the achievement of the significant gains in road safety that emanate from consistent high levels of traffic law enforcement.

Other major proposals identified, such as the plans to establish a system of private sector operation of speed cameras under the auspices of the Gardaí, are well advanced by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Meanwhile the NRA is actively considering the deployment of ITS technology, including variable message signage, on the national roads network with a view to rolling it out on a phased basis.

The Road Traffic Act 2006 enacted a number of key measures. These include the provision to combat drink driving through enabling roadside Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT) and a ban on the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. Since the commencement of the Act 30,000 MAT checkpoints are carried out monthly by the Gardaí and the number of road deaths and collisions have fallen significantly. Last year the number of road deaths was 368 – the second lowest rate in forty years. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is currently working on developing a new road safety strategy for the period 2007-2011.