Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to bring driving lessons and driver education classes into second level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38399/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Road safety is a cross-society concern, in respect of which our schools, and the education sector more generally, can play a role in in supporting road safety education and awareness.

I know that so many of our schools and their communities have seen and experienced the consequences of road collisions first hand, and the devastation caused. I also know that schools have helped their students following the loss of valued members of their community.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), in collaboration with my Department, An Garda Síochána, the Health and Safety Authority and the Higher Education Authority, has continuously been involved in the provision of comprehensive and integrated road safety education programmes. These programmes have been offered at all levels, from pre-school to third level, as well as in the wider community.

Earlier this month, I was pleased to officially launch the new RSA transition year (TY) programme “Road Safety Matters”, designed to help students become safer road users. This programme was created in direct response to my request made to the RSA last year to develop a new TY programme as an immediate first step in helping to change road safety culture among our young people.

The module has been developed by the RSA, is supported by An Garda Síochána and officially sponsored by Irish Public Bodies mutual insurance.

I believe that TY presents an opportunity to equip this critical age group of road users, with the knowledge and life skills needed at a formative time in their lives. The programme will support TY students, as well as their teachers, offering them a step-by-step guide to prepare them on their road safety journey. They will learn the importance of sharing the road, developing the knowledge, skills, values, and qualities to prepare them as road users. This will allow them to be safe drivers if they decide to drive in the future.

There are 10 units in the programme including an overview session, learning to drive, components of a car, speed, alcohol, drugs, distractions, safety belts, vulnerable road users and an assessment. It can be taught over a 10-week period or longer. A road safety toolkit, which supports teachers and students alike, will also be made available.

The units are designed in such a way that relevant questions on the driver theory test form part of the units, and I would hope that as students follow the programme those who wish to can use it as an opportunity to prepare for the driver theory test.

Approximately 220 schools have already expressed an interest in phase one of the programme, with over 110 schools registered for teacher training on the new module.

I welcome the RSA’s work to enhance the accessibility of education programmes for schools. My Department will continue to work closely with the RSA to support their work in rolling out the new TY module in particular, as well as its wider work in promoting road safety in the education sector.

In addition, schools can also avail of the Garda Lifesaver Project, a one-hour interactive programme delivered to Transition Year students by local Gardaí which highlights the impact of road traffic collisions on people’s lives.