Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of alleged car write-offs that he has been made aware of; his views on whether there may still be car write-offs on roads here; the estimate of the number there may be; if he will introduce a compulsory reporting system for car write-offs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32535/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in responses to similar questions in this matter, following analysis of data relating to some 5,400 written off vehicles which has been provided voluntarily by one major insurer against the NVDF the Department wrote to the registered owners of some 261 vehicles which the records indicate may still be in use on public roads. With the assistance of the Irish Insurance Federation, the insurance industry made the necessary data relating to other insurers and covering some 16,700 vehicles which were written off over a period of some years available voluntarily. The process of validating it against the 2.5 million active vehicles on the NVDF has been completed and the details of vehicles which the NVDF has identified as potentially being still in use have been returned to the relevant insurers for confirmation of write-off status.

Insurers are currently engaged in this work, which in some instances involves examination of files, and the Department has impressed upon them to complete this task urgently. The Department will write to the owners affected when validated lists are returned. Voluntary arrangements have been put in place whereby the NVDF receives regular notifications of write off instances. This has facilitated the NVDF to have current write off data and I am favourably disposed to having a period of evaluation of these voluntary arrangements before considering what, if any, compulsory obligations are warranted.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has reviewed recent policy proposals to reduce speed limits by 20 km/h; his plans to reduce speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32529/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the proposals and will take them under consideration in the context of the Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan which I intend to publish before the end of the year.