Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received the recommendations of the Road Safety Authority's Policy Advisory Group on the lowering of the blood alcohol level; if so, when he will publish the recommendations and make a decision on lowering the blood alcohol limit to 50mg; his views on imposing a total ban or very low blood alcohol limit on provisional and learner drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9604/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Safety Strategy for 2007 to 2012, which was launched in October last year, identifies the need to legislate for and introduce a reduction in the legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level for drivers, but it does not specify what that level should be.

The Government has decided that the BAC level should be reduced. The precise level to which the BAC will be lowered will follow consideration by me of the advice of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I expect to receive that advice in the next month or so. A number of issues will inform the recommendations of the RSA, including known driver behaviour, past offending rates, analysis of data held by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, enforcement practicalities and best international practice.