John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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1231. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the specific initiatives he plans to introduce to address the issue of serious disimprovement in road safety in 2016; the timeline for the introduction of these new initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13866/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​2016 saw road deaths in Ireland increase by 15% from 162 to 188.  Preliminary data from other European countries, such as the UK, France, Denmark and Norway, as well as in the USA also shows increases in road fatalities in those countries in 2016. The main causes of road deaths on our roads are speeding, intoxicated driving, use of mobile phones and the non-wearing of seat belts.

The Road Traffic Act 2016 of December 2016 includes further safety measures including drug-driving, a new optional speed limit of 20 kph which local authorities can implement, and the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between ourselves and the UK.

I intend to introduce further legislation in 2017, designed to make our roads safer.  My immediate priority is the passing of the new penalty for drink-driving, whereby all motorists who are detected drink driving will undergo a period of disqualification.  My Department are also working on a number of other legislative Acts in 2017 which will have beneficial effects for road safety.

During 2017 I am convening the Ministerial Committee on Road Safety (including myself, the Minister for Justice and Equality, An Garda Síochána, the local authorities, the Road Safety Authority, the Health and Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Office of the Attorney General and other stakeholders) every three months to increase the focus on road safety.

In addition, the Road Safety Authority is embarking on a wide-ranging road safety campaign of education and advertising, while the numbers serving in the Garda Traffic Bureau will be increased by 10% which will  assist with  enforcement, and the Gardaí have confirmed that road safety enforcement is a priority for An Garda Síochána in the Garda Policing Plan for 2017.