David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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60. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way his Department supports road safety initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41893/24]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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64. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the work plan by his Department, in conjunction with other agencies, to improve road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42046/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 64 together.

The Government has a dedicated Road Safety Strategy, which is aligned with the EU Vision Zero aspiration for 2050. It 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.

In terms of concrete developments and initiatives, we know that speeding, intoxication, distraction, fatigue and the non-use of seat belts are among the most dangerous behaviours by road users. To help address these issues, the Road Traffic Act 2024 was signed into law in April. 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.

The speed limit provisions in the Act follow from the Speed Limit Review published last September, fulfilling a Programme for Government commitment. 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.

In terms of technology, An Garda Síochána expects that average speed cameras will go into operation later this month on the N3 in Cavan and on the N5 in Mayo. A further average speed camera zone and nine static cameras are expected this year, with work also progressing on the first National Safety Camera Strategy, which will provide a framework for a significant expansion of camera-based enforcement in the coming years.

In the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, my Department introduced important new legislative provisions to underpin the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID). This expands the data on motor insurance policies collected in the Database and, through the appropriate data sharing mechanisms, IMID is already providing An Garda Síochána with a powerful new enforcement tool which is being used to combat uninsured driving.

Finally, my Department has also commissioned a review of the Road Safety Authority, which is nearing conclusion and the findings of which will be brought to Government shortly. I believe that the transformational change being recommended will aid our whole-of-Government response to road safety.