Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on his Department’s steps to improve road safety in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33755/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the current national framework for road safety is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. The Strategy was launched in December 2021 and follows international best practice, aligns with EU and UN targets, and is based on the Safe Systems approach. The Strategy has the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade, and to achieving Vision Zero—as close as possible to no deaths or serious injuries on Irish roads—by 2050.

Phase 1 of the Road Safety Strategy ran until the end of of 2024, with approximately 169 concrete actions complete or on track at its conclusion. Notable deliverables include publication of an updated National Cycle Manual, publication of the Speed Limits Review, and subsequent implementation of the first set of new default speed limits—of 60km/h on rural, local roads, as provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2024.

The Phase 2 Action Plan 2025-2027 is currently being finalised and I expect to publish it in the near future. This Action Plan identifies primary actions that are transformative in nature and which are themed across the overarching, internationally recognised safe systems approach. Each of these actions will be delivered through partnership and collaborative working with a range of road safety stakeholders.

To support and supplement the primary actions, the action plan includes a suite of supporting actions which reflect a wider range of ongoing important activities currently being delivered by road safety partners.

To ensure that road safety advocates had an opportunity to contribute to the Phase 2 Action Plan of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, the Department of Transport and RSA established the Road User Safety Forum. The Forum is made up of representatives comprising road safety advocates and experts, and its original role was to advise on the development of the Phase 2 Action Plan. In all, four meetings of the Forum have been held to date and the Forum will continue to advise on the implementation of the Phase 2 action plan.

In addition, a number of high-impact actions are progressing, including delivery of a national safety camera strategy, and phased implementation of a new policy to tackle the issue of multiple learner permits. Work has also commenced on reviewing the driver curriculum, and ringfenced funding of €18m in Budget 2025 has been allocated to media, education and awareness campaigns.

On National Roads, Transport Infrastructure Ireland continues to have full access to collision data under the Road Infrastructure Safety Management Directive and uses this information to conduct detailed analysis on the national road network to prioritise safety investment. A priority for TII is the maintenance of the existing national roads network to ensure it is kept to a safe and robust standard. This involves carrying out extensive analysis of the network to identify high-risk locations, through analysis of collision data and through inspections.In 2025, funding of €254m has been provided through TII for the protection and renewal of the existing national road network. This includes funding for various upgrades to improve safety. One such example in Galway is a road realignment project between Milltown and Gortnagunnad on the N17, which will improve safety on this section of what is a busy national primary road. This project has been allocated €800,000 for 2025. Funding has also been allocated for multiple road safety improvements on the N59, which is an important lifeline road between Galway and Clifden.On Regional and Local Roads, the Department of Transport continues to undertake the Road Network safety analysis on behalf of local authorities using collision datasets provided by the RSA. This analysis identifies sections of the network, or Locations of Interest (LOIs), where a history of collisions has occurred and where value for money interventions such as Safety Improvement Works can reduce or eliminate collisions. Locations of interest are notified to each local authority and the Department invites applications for safety improvement schemes toward the end of each year for targeted funding and implementation in the following year. The Department has provided an allocation of €523,500 to Galway County Council in 2025 to progress 11 schemes under the Safety Improvement Works grant programme. This represents a 22.3% increase in funding from 2024 under this grant type.With regards to capital projects, the Department is also funding a scheme under the Specific Grant programme which aims to improve the alignment of the R332 in Kilbannon. This section of road represents a pinch point on the R332 with poor visibility and a narrow carriageway. The Department has allocated €1.7m in 2025 towards improving the alignment and safety of this road.