Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce a national accreditation programme for car mechanics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7707/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The introduction of a national accreditation programme for car mechanics does not fall under the remit of my Department.

In general, Further Education and Training awards, the validation of education and training programmes, and the National Framework of Qualifications are administered by Quality and Qualifications Ireland, which falls under the aegis of the Minister for Education and Skills.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the considerable safety concerns arising from cars that have been poorly or improperly maintained by technicians without adequate training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7708/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Road Safety Authority, which comes under my Department's remit, has responsibility for the National Car Testing Service and Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test, both of which will detect vehicles that do not meet the required roadworthiness standards.

However, the standards of vehicle maintenance, as with other service standards, is a consumer rights matter and falls within the responsibility of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which is under the aegis of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and do not come within the remit of my Department. Neither does the training of technicians who carry out such maintenance, or the adequacy thereof, which is a matter for Quality and Qualifications Ireland under the Minister for Education and Skills.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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260. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce a national accreditation programme for bike mechanics further to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter [7709/18]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the safety concerns arising when vehicles, including bicycles, are poorly maintained; and his plans to introduce measures to raise public awareness of the need to properly maintain bicycles. [7710/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that at present I have no plans to introduce a scheme for accreditation of bicycle mechanics.

I am acutely aware, however, of the importance of cyclist safety and my Department continues to work with and fund key stakeholders to address how road users behave on our roads in order to promote a safe and respectful approach from all users sharing the public road space.

The Road Safety Authority - which operates under the aegis of my Department - does important work in getting safety messages across. The RSA’s ‘Cycle Smart, Cycle Safe’ campaign directly addressed safety issues for cyclists, including cycling equipment check, Rules of the Road, sharing the road and proper signalling procedures. The RSA continually addresses road safety issues for all road users - including raising awareness of how other road users should interact safely with cyclists - and it actively engages with a variety of key stakeholders across a wide range of media.

My Department also funds Cycle Right and the Green Schools Travel programmes, which help provide quality cycle training for children, to help ensure the safety of cyclists into the future by providing instruction on the safe operation of bicycles in urban areas.