Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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225. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the effectiveness of the imposition of speed limiting devices on vehicles driven by drivers that have been before the courts on driving offence charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42898/13]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has studied the experiences of other countries that have used the fitting of speed limiting devices on vehicles as a means of improving road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42899/13]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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227. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has studied the effectiveness of fitting anti-alcohol immobilising devices on vehicles as a means of improving road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42900/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 to 227, inclusive, together.

Currently there is no legal basis providing for the approval, certification, fitting and monitoring of speed limiting devices for mandatory use on mechanically propelled vehicles following a conviction for a road traffic offence. I do not have any plans at this time to provide for the use of such devices in legislation. On the more general issue of speed limiters, the European Commission recently conducted a study on the implementation of the Directive on speed limitation devices and its possible extension to light goods vehicles and cars. Ireland took the position, expressed through the Road Safety Authority, that there is currently no justification for extending the scope of the Directive to other categories of vehicle. 

As regards alcohol interlocks, Action 121 of the Road Safety Strategy 2013 to 2020 provides for undertaking a cost benefit analysis for the use of alcohol interlocks as a sanction for repeat offenders.  The lead agency responsible for the implementation of the Action is the Road Safety Authority and the completion date for the Action is the first quarter of 2014.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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228. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request emergency funding from the Department Finance to intensify road safety warnings and awareness in the final weeks of 2013, in view of the worrying rise in road tragedies in the first nine months of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42901/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Advertising and education regarding road safety for all road users is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  My Department provides funding to the RSA in order to allow it fulfil its functions.  It is a matter predominantly for the RSA to decide the allocation of funding across its functions. I am aware that a considerable amount of its total income is allocated to education and awareness campaigns and funding is available for this activity.

I have asked the Road Safety Authority to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to his concerns, providing details of the education and awareness campaigns that it operates, and I would ask him to contact my office if he has not received a reply within ten days.