Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Transport the way the cut in the budget for the Road Safety Authority will affect the roll out of many planned safety initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36312/08]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is allocating €35.6 million to the Road Safety Authority for 2009. While this amount is less than that provided in 2008 (€39.1 million) the 2008 allocation included a provision to reduce the driver testing backlog. This objective was achieved and the RSA is maintaining the driver test waiting time at 10 weeks.

The 2009 level of funding coupled with the fee income which the RSA earns will enable the Road Safety Authority to continue implementation of the Road Safety Strategy into 2009 and ensure that reductions in road fatalities secured in recent years are continued. While my Department provides annual funding to the Road Safety Authority, the allocation of resources to the various programmes is a matter for the Authority itself.