Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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371. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that driver fatigue is the cause of one in five road accidents here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin Bus currently have scheduled driving rotas whereby bus drivers on route number 7 from Donnybrook and on route number 27 from Ringsend are driving for over five hours, and in some cases for over six hours, without a break, bearing in mind that a driver who transports live animals must take a break after 4.5 hours of driving under the Road Traffic Acts, yet Dublin Bus drivers are fatigued from driving for over 5.5 hours and up to six hours in some cases. [38974/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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This subject of driver fatigue was addressed at the annual Road Safety Authority (RSA) lecture on the 6th of October. Driver fatigue is one the main causes of road crashes, along with distraction, excessive and inappropriate speed, and intoxication. My Department, along with the RSA and An Garda Síochána, are examining these areas on an on-going basis to identify measures that can be taken to address and bring about future reductions in fatalities and serious injuries due to these causes.

Rotas and scheduled driving arrangements at Dublin Bus are part of the day to day operational matters for the company and are not ones in which I or my Department have a role. Nonetheless, I have referred the matter to Dublin Bus for direct reply. Please contact my Private Office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.

The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), which falls under the remit of my colleague, Richard Bruton, TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and who have responsibility for enforcing the Organisation of Working Time legislation, can advise further regarding the requirements of that legislation.