Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has reviewed the figures for the number of unaccompanied learner drivers that have been involved in fatal and serious collisions each year since 2009; if he is going to propose any new measures in liaison with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and An Garda Síochána to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26054/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that 45 unaccompanied learner drivers were involved in a fatal collision and that 74 were involved in a serious injury collision between 1 January 2009 and 14 May, 2012. I am, of course, concerned at these fatalities and serious injury collisions as I am for all such incidents on our roads.

Road traffic legislation, which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, provides that a learner driver must be accompanied at all times and that it is an offence for a learner driver to drive a vehicle while unaccompanied by a holder of a full license.

Enforcement in the area of road safety by An Garda Síochána continues to focus on high risk behaviour such as speeding, drink or drug driving, non-use of seat belts, reckless driving and use of mobile phones, with a view to reducing the number of collisions and fatalities. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that a particular focus will also be on the learner driver.

In that regard, the Deputy will be aware that An Garda Síochána recently conducted two specific enforcement operations under Operation Learner Driver in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority and other relevant stakeholders. These operations targeted learner drivers and took place in March and April of this year and a substantial number of cautions and proceedings arose as a result. An Garda Síochána will continue to prioritise the enforcement of road traffic legislation to ensure greater compliance by learner drivers.