Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce road fatalities. [38161/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has a dedicated Road Safety Strategy, which is aligned with the EU Vision Zero aspiration for 2050 and includes the interim target of halving fatalities and serious injuries this decade.

The Strategy is being delivered in partnership by key road safety agencies, including my Department, the Department of Justice, the Road Safety Authority, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety and An Garda Síochána. Other Government Departments and key agencies also have responsibility for leading on the delivery of certain actions within the Phase 1 Action Plan, which runs from 2021 to the end of 2024.

However, road safety is not just a matter for Government; it is an all-of-society concern. To ensure we achieve road safety goals, we need the help and commitment of drivers and other road users. We know that speeding, drink and drug-driving, distracted road users, driving while fatigued and the non-use of seat belts are among the reckless driver and road user behaviours destroying lives on our roads.

To address these issues, notable achievements include the signing into law of the Road Traffic Act 2024. This priority legislation was brought forward by my Department in response to the rising road fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.

The Act seeks to bring about systemic change to dangerous driver behaviour through safer default speed limits, harsher penalties on those caught committing multiple driving offences, and mandatory drug testing at the scene of a collision. The Act also enabled the introduction of e-scooter regulations which are now subject to a legal framework and restrictions on their use, operation and capacity.

Last September, the Speed Limit Review was published, which fulfilled a Programme for Government commitment. Since publication, significant progress has been made across various levels of Government to implement the principal recommendations in terms of establishing safer default limits on much of the network, while still respecting the important devolved responsibility of local authorities to vary the limit on a given road where this is warranted. The first phase will be to change the default speed limit on rural, local roads from 80km/h to 60km/h, and consultations are currently under way across the country in this regard.

An Garda Síochána has recently confirmed that commissioning and testing has begun for average safety cameras on the N3 in Cavan and on the N5 in Mayo, and these are expected to enter operation later this month. In total, there will be three additional average Safety Camera systems, and nine Static Safety Cameras rolled out this year, with work also progressing on the first National Safety Camera Strategy to provide a framework for a significant expansion of camera-based enforcement in the coming years.

In addition to closing out Phase 1 of the strategy in 2024, the Phase 2 Action plan is under development, which will target impactful actions under the safe system approach for the period 2025 - 2027. In order to ensure road user advocates have the opportunity to contribute to the Phase 2 Action Plan, my Department, together with the Road Safety Authority, has established a new Road User Safety Forum, comprising road users and road safety advocates.

My Department has also initiated a review of the Road Safety Authority itself, which is now nearing conclusion and the findings of which will be brought to Government shortly. The review has a wide remit but the transformational change being recommended will also aid our whole of Government response to road safety.

Road safety is a foremost priority for me and this Government. Everyone is entitled to use our roads and, importantly, to be safe on our roads.