Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 669: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy on reducing road deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14096/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Many of the initiatives in relation to improving road safety are contained in the Road Safety Strategy 2007 - 2012. The Strategy identifies a number of Actions, and the bodies responsible for their implementation, that will contribute to safer roads. The core objective of the Strategy is to reduce road deaths to 60 fatalities per million of population by 2012, thereby bringing Ireland in line with best practice countries in road safety terms. This equates to an average of 21 road fatalities per month or 252 per year.

2011 was the safest year on our roads since records began, with 186 road fatalities or an average of 15 fatalities per month. This downward trend has continued in 2012 with 29 road fatalities recorded up to the 9th March, a reduction of 14 as of the same date in 2011. Of course, we cannot be complacent about this issue and the challenge for all of us stakeholders is to do our utmost to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to keep road fatalities at the lowest level possible.

I have asked the Road Safety Authority to prepare the next Road Safety Strategy covering the period 2013 to 2020. I understand that a consultation process has begun in relation to the content of the Strategy and I expect to see a first draft in the coming months.