Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the increasing number of deaths on Irish roads in recent months; his plans to introduce legislation to facilitate the closer supervision of learner and novice drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42728/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that October 2010, with 35 road fatalities, has been the worst month for road fatalities since December 2007. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that even with the dreadful events of October, the total number of road fatalities for the year so far - 197 as of 11 November 2010 - is still below the number for the same period in 2009.

The core objective of the current Road Safety Strategy 2007–2012 is to reduce road deaths to no greater than 60 fatalities per million of population by the end of 2012, or an average of 252 deaths per year. 2009 saw the lowest number of road deaths on record in Ireland, 240. This means that we reached our core objective well before its target date. Indeed, road deaths dropped by 41.6% between the period 1999 and 2009.

However, 240 deaths on our roads is still far too many, and we can never be complacent. We must now, collectively, do all in our power to ensure that the core objective figure is not exceeded, and hopefully improved upon, this year and in future years.

While many road users in Ireland have embraced road safety and taken personal responsibility for their behaviour on our roads, I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone, whether on a personal or professional basis, to work together and redouble all efforts with a view to making 2010 our safest year yet and to making 2011 even safer again.

One of a number of areas in which we can make improvements to road safety is through strengthening the process of learning to drive in Ireland. In September last, the Road Safety Authority launched proposals for the introduction of a graduated driver licensing scheme, and I am committed to seeing them implemented. These proposals include stricter rules on learner and recently qualified drivers, and will enhance the learning process, to the benefit of all road users.

The Road Safety Authority is currently engaged in work on preparing the roll-out of the various graduated driver licensing proposals.

Many of the proposals in the scheme will require primary legislation, and it is my intention to publish a Road Traffic Bill to provide the necessary powers in 2011.