Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason he has reduced the road safety budget by €4 million; the road safety programmes that will see a decrease in funding for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39833/08]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received communications from the Road Safety Authority regarding the impact of the cuts he has made to its budget; if he expects to cost of driving licences to rise as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39950/08]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 123 together.

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 Exchequer 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.

The level of fees for services provided through the Road Safety Authority is a matter for the Road Safety Authority in the first instance.