An Cathaoirleach: The purpose of today's meeting is to resume our discussion on road safety. On behalf of the committee, I am very pleased to welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Seán Canney, along with his officials.

I will read out some notes on privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Earlier this year, the committee decided unanimously to prioritise road safety, particularly in light of the number of fatalities last year, which was the highest in a number of years, with almost 190 lives lost. Regrettably, as of today, 80 lives have been lost so far this year. We are all conscious that behind every statistic is a family and community who are grieving and devastated by loss.

Our structured work plan began in February. We have met quite a number of stakeholders, including vulnerable road users and representatives of cycling bodies, pedestrian and walking groups, motorcycle groups and, in particular, victim impact groups. I wish to refer in particular to the Irish Road Victims Association and the PARC Road Safety Group. We have met academics, representatives from the Medical Bureau of Road Safety and Alcohol Action Ireland, and other road user representative bodies like the Irish Road Haulage Association.

Our work will culminate in a number of weeks. We are meeting representatives of the Road Safety Authority, RSA, in two weeks' time. Our final meeting in the set of focused meetings will be with the Garda Commissioner and the assistant commissioner on 15 July. Of course, all of this work will culminate in a practical report, which we hope to publish in September, with clear recommendations for the Government and relevant agencies.

That is just some context. I really appreciate the Minister of State's presence here today. I invite him to make his opening statement.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Seán Canney)
 
I thank the Cathaoirleach and the other members of the committee for inviting me here this morning. I welcome the opportunity, along with my officials, to engage on the issue of road safety.

The successful completion of the road safety strategy, coupled with positive changes in driver behaviour, is a model that works and has delivered positive road safety outcomes in Ireland for almost 30 years. In 1998, implementation began on the first national road safety strategy. The 1997 figure of 472 fatalities fell to 162 by 2012 and to 133 by 2021, the lowest number ever recorded since records began in 1959.

In addition, it is important to note that the preliminary figures on road fatalities for 2025, released by the European Commission in March, ranked Ireland in the top five EU countries for the lowest number of deaths per million of population. However, I acknowledge that, unfortunately, more recent trends are less positive and the gains that we made are beginning to slip. Last year saw an increase in road deaths, with 188 fatalities recorded. It is imperative that we reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads and return to the progress of previous years.

With that in mind, I want to update the committee on where we are with matters. The current national framework for road safety is the road safety strategy for the period 2021 to 2030. The strategy aligns with EU and UN targets and is based on a safe systems approach. It aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade and to achieve Vision Zero, or as close as possible to no deaths or serious injuries on Irish roads, by 2050.

The strategy is being implemented in three phases. The phase 1 action plan ran until the end of 2024 and included some notable achievements. These include the sharing of insurance data with An Garda Síochána, the expansion of the use of safety cameras, the launch of the safe routes to school programme, mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions, mandatory roads policing hours for front-line Garda members and the completion of the speed limit review.

Following a review of the phase 1 plan, the phase 2 plan adopts a more targeted approach. The plan includes 12 transformative actions that have the potential to greatly enhance road safety in Ireland. These actions are supported by a further 77 supporting actions. The actions set out in the phase 2 action plan are defined across seven priority interventions, which have been developed and adapted in accordance with the specific road safety needs of Ireland.

Some of the key actions include the following: investing significantly in new and improved active travel and public transport; increasing the use of technology for road safety purposes, such as expanding the safety camera network and increasing the range of offences enforceable by cameras, as well as promoting and implanting intelligent transport infrastructure; expanding network safety analysis on the road network to identify high-risk locations, guide investment decisions and prioritise safety interventions, including for local road networks; implementing in full all actions of the phase 2 action plan based on the 2023 speed limit review; and reviewing and overhauling our learning-to-drive curriculum.

On oversight, my Department is responsible for the central co-ordination of the road safety strategy and the phase 2 action plan for the period 2025 to 2027. Delivery of this action plan is overseen at ministerial level by the road safety leadership group, which I chair. This group is attended by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. It comprises senior officials from the key road safety partners, including An Garda Síochána, the RSA, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, the National Transport Authority, NTA, the Courts Service, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the Health and Safety Authority and local authorities.

The group meets quarterly to review and discuss progress on the delivery of the 12 primary actions. This approach, with multiple agencies working together, is aligned with best practice in other European countries. The road user safety forum also continues to meet and support the implementation of the strategy. We are making progress in this area.

On 29 April, I published the first national safety camera strategy, which provides the framework for increased deployment of cameras across the network in both urban and rural locations to assist with the enforcement of a wide range of road traffic offences. In the first instance, it is focused on speed, red light-running and bus lane infringements, but it will be scaled up over time to include, for example, programme for Government commitments around camera enforcement of seat belts and mobile phone offences.

The strategy sets out a partnership approach for camera deployment and enforcement between An Garda Síochána, the TII and the NTA. It proposes that TII take responsibility for the management of fixed and average speed cameras in partnership with An Garda Síochána, which will continue to be responsible for the enforcement of camera-detected speed offences. The NTA would assume the primary responsibility for both management and enforcement functions for urban traffic management offences.

A delivery-focused camera enforcement oversight group has been established and is chaired by the CEO of the National Transport Authority, Ms Anne Shaw. This group comprises senior leaders from An Garda Síochána, the NTA, TII, the RSA, the Courts Service and the local authority sector, and will be responsible for progressing the strategy. It will report to the leadership group on progress.

Moving on to road safety legislation, we are moving forward with a significant legislative programme. Work on the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill is progressing. This Bill includes 11 separate provisions designed to modernise road safety enforcement, improve the use of data and address identified gaps in road safety legislation.

Some of the key provisions in the Bill include restoring a clear legislative basis for local authorities to directly receive and process road collision data and allowing for a jury to consider a charge of careless driving where the defendant is acquitted of dangerous driving, addressing a gap identified in Mr. Justice Haughton's report into the tragic death of Shane O'Farrell.

On 3 April 2026, new regulations, known as Grace’s law in memory of Grace Lynch, came into effect. These regulations fully ban the use of scramblers in public places and enhance and clarify Garda powers of enforcement. The Department is engaging with the Department of justice and An Garda Síochána on powers of seizure and detention in relation to the new regulations, including the fees applicable to seized vehicles.

We are also working on the next road traffic Bill, including measures on graduated speeding penalties and camera enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences. In addition, we are working with the Law Reform Commission on consolidating road traffic law for the first time since 1961. This will make the law clearer and more consistent.

I mentioned earlier that the first phase of changes under the speed limit review have happened. The change in the default speed limit on rural roads from 80 km/h to 60 km/h, took effect on 7 February 2025. This change affected 82,000 km, or 80%, of the road network.

Local authorities are now reviewing existing speed limits on roads in built-up and urban areas and will, where appropriate, implement lower speed limits including the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit, such as on roads in cities and towns. Local authorities have been directed to conclude this work and have the new speed limits operational by 31 March 2027.

We continue to invest in infrastructure projects across our road networks. Budget 2026 provides funding of €1.72 billion for national, regional and local roads including for road safety measures - an increase of €211 million on 2025. This funding will support safer road design, junction upgrades and the roll-out of new safety technology.

It should also be noted that for 2026, the RSA has once again ring-fenced €18 million for road safety public interest work including awareness raising and education activities. It is important that we continue to highlight and raise awareness of the risk of speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, driving while distracted and not wearing a seatbelt while on our roads.

In conclusion, I welcome officials from the Department who are with me here today: Keith Walsh, assistant secretary with responsibility for roads policy and investment; Jan-Claire McNeill, principal officer in the road safety division; and Ross Hattaway, principal officer in the driver and traffic regulation division. I thank the Chair and the members for facilitating the session this afternoon and I look forward to our discussion....

[Read the full debate on the Oireachtas website]