Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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512. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who died in road traffic collisions in 2021; the number of persons who were injured in road traffic collisions in 2021 and who later died within 30 days of the road traffic collision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35659/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters related to road traffic enforcement.

Road safety remains a high priority for An Garda Síochána and for my Department, working closely in cooperation with the Department of Transport. Any serious injury or fatality is of great concern.

I am advised that An Garda Síochána’s Pulse system has 137 persons recorded as deceased as a result of Fatal Road Traffic Collisions in 2021.

For a death to be recorded as such, and following international best practice in respect of the recording of road deaths, the death must have occurred within 30 days of the collision.

As a number of these incidents may still be under investigation and the coronial examination has not been completed, the classification of such incidents is subject to review and change and is therefore provisional.