Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Defence the safety improvements that have been made to Army vehicles in view of recent road accidents involving Army lorries on the M50 and in Granard, County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35887/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Arising from the accident in Granard, Co. Longford in June 2007, a Study Group was formed to advise on the introduction of a roll over protection system for troop carrying vehicles incorporating roll bars and safety belts.

The total requirement identified by the Study Group included the fitting of the system to 135 trucks. The fleet is made up of 4 different makes/models of vehicles with vehicle bodies of different specification across the model range. There is no standard roll over protection system for military vehicles in service with the Defence Forces. For that reason, the evaluation of a suitable system to satisfy all demands, requires the examination of solutions from a number of potential suppliers.

The provision of a roll over protection system to military vehicles is still at an early stage. A roll over protection system was fitted to a DAF 4x4 troop carrying vehicle in July 2008. This vehicle is currently in service with an operational unit for evaluation purposes.

Other systems are due to be fitted to selected vehicles in the coming weeks. Following a period of evaluation and user feedback, tenders will be sought for the provision of a suitable restraint system.