Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the progress in completing a new road safety strategy; the budget he proposes to devote to same over its duration; and when he expects to publish it. [17897/07]

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the reason there is no national road safety strategy in place. [18039/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 30 and 63 together.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for developing a new Road Safety Strategy for the period 2007-2011. They went out to public consultation in October last year and received a substantial number of suggestions and proposals as a result of this process. The RSA also engaged in a process of direct consultation with key stakeholders in December 2006. The volume of submissions received from these processes were examined by the Authority who are now working towards the finalisation of the new Strategy.

When the new Road Safety Strategy is received my officials and I will examine the document. Discussions may then take place with the RSA with regard to any changes or revisions that are considered appropriate. I will bring the final document to Government for approval as soon as possible thereafter.

In the meantime, the commitment to a strategic integrated approach by all the relevant agencies to reduce the level of deaths and injuries on our roads, continues. There is also a consistently high level of Garda enforcement, particularly in relation to drink driving, speeding and other penalty point offences. The number of road deaths in 2006 was the second lowest rate in forty years and this downward trend in deaths and collision rates has been maintained in 2007.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine when the pilot scheme to examine the possibility of allowing motorcyclists use bus lanes will be initiated; and when it will be completed. [17888/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The primary purpose of bus lanes is to facilitate and promote bus based public transport and the use of bus lanes is provided for in the Road Traffic (Traffic & Parking) Regulations 1997 and 1998. Many representations have been received by my Department over the years seeking to extend access to bus lanes to a wide range of other road users. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) carried out and presented to my Department some research in relation to motorcycle safety and proposed that the issue of allowing motorcyclists access to bus lanes on a pilot scheme basis be examined.

Following consultation with the other relevant agencies, a small working group was established under the chairmanship of the RSA. Work is on-going with regard to the detailed specification of pilot schemes permitting motorcyclists in bus lanes. All aspects of the original RSA proposal, including any safety implications, will be taken into account in a Report that will be presented to my Department on completion of this work.