Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Transport if the Road Safety Authority proposes to extend its winter campaign (details supplied) to avail of a free high visibility jacket especially for cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42704/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Safety Authority, Age Action Ireland and the Irish Pharmacy Union, in a joint initiative in May 2009 announced the distribution of 200,000 free high visibility vests to promote road safety among older people in Ireland. The Road Safety Authority publicised the campaign again in August of 2009 to ensure older people were aware of the initiative. The high visibility jackets were made available through local pharmacies.

The campaign was designed to heighten the awareness of vulnerable road users, in particular older pedestrians who are over represented in the number of those killed and seriously injured on Irish roads. Over the period 1998 – 2009, almost a third (30%) of pedestrians killed were aged 65 or over.

In 2010 the RSA has again distributed high visibility jackets and armbands to vulnerable road users, including cyclists.

A total of 340,000 high visibility arm bands were distributed recently through a Sunday newspaper to mark World Remembrance Day for Road Victims on the 29th November, 50,000 high visibility vests at the National Ploughing Championship, 130,000 high visibility jackets through the 'Back to School' campaign, 25,000 high visibility vests through the 'Bike Buyers Guide' and a further 20,000 to community and sporting groups around the country.

The Road Safety Authority will be running additional campaigns targeting vulnerable road users including cyclists in December.

The Authority is planning to continue its high visibility campaign into 2011 and will finalise specifics once the Authority has determined its budget for 2011.