Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of counties across the country that have a full time road safety officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49536/12]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is his intention that every county council has a full-time road safety officer in the future; his plans for ensuring same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49537/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 and 682 together.

The appointment of road safety officers is essentially a matter for each local authority. Under Action 16 of the current Road Safety Strategy, each local authority is required to appoint a full time Road Safety Office to promote road safety. However, in the current economic climate, it is accepted that all local authorities may not be in a position to appoint full time Officers. The matter is being examined, at present, by my Department, the Road Safety Authority and the City and County Managers Association with a view to establishing a network of regional safety officers under the auspices of the Road Safety Authority. The number of officers and their locations will be decided as part of that process.