Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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137. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will increase the roll out of "average speed zones" on national roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1825/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In 2024, Transport Infrastructure Ireland was nominated to lead the development of a comprehensive national strategy for the future roll-out and expanded use of safety cameras. A draft of this strategy is expected to be completed in the coming months.

The Strategy will cover the use of safety cameras across all aspects of the road network, with the objective of saving lives by reducing unsafe driver behaviours that can be detected using existing and proven camera-based technologies. The Strategy will focus on speed, red light and bus lane cameras in the initial phase. However, it is being designed to allow for the enforcement of other violations in the future, such as mobile phone use and not wearing seat belts. It is expected that legislative amendment will be required to allow for future camera enforcement in these areas.

In the short-term and as announced last year, pending the finalisation of the strategy and overarching camera framework that will inform the wider deployment of average speed zones where appropriate, Transport Infrastructure Ireland is collaborating with An Garda Síochána and relevant Local Authorities on the deployment of three new average speed camera zones. The first two of these zones came into operation on the N3 in Cavan and N5 in Mayo last October and the third location, on the N2 in Meath, is expected to enter operation this quarter.

Notwithstanding the work ongoing noted above to develop a comprehensive strategy, the deployment of further average speed zones under the existing legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána to determine and to enforce.