Today's report from the National Roads Authority makes shocking reading. According to this survey, the level of speeding has increased by 800%. Every single-decker bus and almost every articulated truck is speeding on our motorways. Just over half of secondary school pupils wear seat belts while travelling in the back of cars.

There is an obvious link between the slaughter on the roads and the findings in this report. Deaths on our roads have risen substantially over the past few years. There were 335 such deaths in 2003, 374 in 2004 and 399 in 2005. Already this year, 50 people have lost their lives on Irish roads. In one 24-hour period, eight people died. This is an indication of a national emergency. Had these people lost their lives in a terrorist attack, or whatever, the nation would be in mourning, but as the Irish Independent says today, as it stands, those deaths will inevitably fade from the front pages.

It should be borne in mind that every death on a road is not just another statistic of shame but an unfilled place at a breakfast table or in college, or the absence of a parent to bring a child to school. The Government set out a list of promises nine years ago and it is about time it took serious action to deal with these unwanted and tragic deaths. Responsibility for the roll-out of speed cameras falls between a number of Ministers and Ministries. No-one carries the can or takes responsibility and no-one is seen to be in charge.

The Taoiseach is not responsible for road deaths, nor could he be. It is a matter of driver consideration. However, the Taoiseach and the Government stand indicted, and guilty of the charge of allowing an atmosphere and an environment permeate driving in this country whereby people assume they can get away with driving under the influence of drink or of substance abuse, or with excessive speed. It is about time the Taoiseach took personal charge of this national scandal and litany of shame. I ask him to do so now because one after another, his Ministers have failed miserably in their duty to create that sense of awareness and consideration both for self and for others.

As I said in reply to Deputy Kenny previously, no one can be happy when anyone is killed on our roads. I agree that every road tragedy is a huge loss to a family, a community and a neighbourhood. The rise in road deaths figures over the recent period is a cause of huge regret.

A range of measures is under way. I have been involved in a series of relevant meetings recently, and over the years. Over the past decade we have seen an increase of almost 70% in the number of licensed vehicles using our roads and tragically, from a 40-year low of 335 people killed on the roads in 2003, which I consider 335 deaths too many, road deaths have increased in the past two years, with 374 people killed in 2004 and 399 killed last year. The opening weeks of this year have seen a further high level of road mortality, with 50 deaths though we are only in the first week of February.

Clearly we need to push home the message that 86% of deaths on the roads are caused by driver error. Speeding is the main killer. People must share responsibility and slow down. They must stop drinking and driving. In order to reinforce that message and force a dramatic improvement in driver behaviour we are currently introducing a co-ordinated series of measures in addition to those we have already introduced. We are the first Government to have a dedicated road safety strategy. We have introduced penalty points for speeding and for offences with regard to seat belts, insurance and careless driving. We have established a dedicated Garda traffic corps headed by an assistant commissioner. The number of gardaí assigned to the traffic corps reached 570 at the end of last year, will increase to 805 this year and to its maximum, 1,200, in 2008. We have invested in new, improved, safer roads, at enormous expense, with €1.5 billion being spent annually.

We are also seeing the results of improved enforcement. Though last year was a bad one for road deaths, nearly 300,000 drivers received penalty points, an increase of more than 100,000 on the previous year's figure of 189,000. We are introducing a series of other measures. The legal issues of speed cameras and random sampling have been resolved. As I explained last week, tricky legal issues were involved, but I co-ordinated a meeting which dealt with them. That legislation has been given urgent priority. It will help the Attorney General and the parliamentary draftsman. Hopefully, it will be in the House in this session, which is what I intend.

It gives me no satisfaction. People sometimes argue about the list of the new offences, asking if these penalty points are any use and will they solve the problem. Unfortunately, we are forced into taking these measures. Almost 600 people were dying on our roads 30 years ago when we had half the number of cars. This does not give any satisfaction. The reality is that people are not driving safely, they are taking too many risks and pushing the speed limits. Even though the roads are incrementally better than they were then, we are seeing too many tragedies. The only way we can respond is for gardaí to take measures that will inconvenience people.

The Taoiseach's time has concluded.

We have heard all of this from the Taoiseach before. The late Professor John Kelly used to say in this House that, if one allowed people to drive a tonne of metal down the road regardless of speed limits, there would be serious tragedies. At this point in the year, 50 deaths — eight in 24 hours — is a scandal of national proportions.

The Taoiseach has not implemented what he has talked about. He now tells us the issue of random breath testing is resolved. He gave the most complicated response to a question in this House last week, which has caused complete confusion between lawyers, the public, gardaí and members of the Government. The random breath testing issue is not resolved. There is no reform of driver education and no national programme for young drivers and non-nationals driving in this country, where they must drive on the left-hand side of the road rather than the right-hand side. Why have we got 425,000 people on provisional driving licences? Why is there a waiting list of over 53 weeks in many centres? Surely this is evidence of complete incompetence by whoever is in charge.

On the roll out of penalty points, referred to by the Taoiseach and promised by the Government, four offences covered eight years. There is complete inconsistency in the whole business of speed limits, from 60 km/h to 100 km/h. For example, the limit is 100 km/h outside some schools. Every piece of roadway where major contractors contracted with the NRA or local authorities are nothing short of obstacle courses.

The Deputy's time has concluded.

What about the number of deaths in cases where people have crashed into roadworks, where there is confusion due to lack of consistency?

It is about time the Taoiseach takes personal charge of seeing that this is done. It is a matter that the Government can do and achieve. A sense of awareness can be given to people. Anybody taking a motorcycle, car, lorry, articulated truck, bus, other vehicle or using the public roadways should understand that they have personal responsibility and rights to show due consideration for others and the law of the land. The Taoiseach should, for once, take charge of the half dozen Ministries that have failed utterly to create an environment and atmosphere of respect for others and understanding for the law. In that sense, it is time for action, leadership and enforcement. Lives depend on it.

Hear, hear.

We are the first Government to have a national safety strategy and most of the issues mentioned by Deputy Kenny in regard to training, young people receiving reports and gardaí visiting them all happen.

I will go back over what is taking place because the Government is not sitting back. We are introducing measures to reduce driver test waiting times and we have made a critical contribution to road safety and improved driving behaviour. Ministers have announced those schemes already. We are rolling out more penalty point offences from 1 April.

The Government will not.

We will.

The Minister for Transport has announced a further 31 penalty point offences, which will bring the total number to 35. We are establishing a road safety authority and bringing forward a Bill to provide private speed cameras. Cameras must be properly located at accident black spots. A new system must be designed to save lives, not raise revenues. A point was made in this House in recent weeks about that matter. Camera suppliers must be answerable to the Garda.

We are introducing legislation to provide for the establishment of random breath testing, to which drivers will be required to submit. What we said last week and what has been given to the Garda has not created any confusion other than people wanting to raise a point about it. The only argument is people trying to say the Garda cannot have random check points. The Garda can have random check points. It is a different issue to random breath testing and we are making the legal provision so they can have random breath testing. The Attorney General has given his views to the Garda. The Commissioner has been before a committee of the Houses and said the Garda is satisfied with the position. We must now bring it forward in legislation.

We have established a high level road safety group to co-ordinate the Ministers for Transport, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Finance, Health and Children and Education and Science. I have already convened that meeting. We must also appeal to the public to take account of these issues as I can see what will happen very quickly. We are putting a large number of gardaí on the roads who will set up check points. It will be very difficult for ordinary law abiding people on the roads, who will see a far greater number of gardaí. Unfortunately, if we have the number of road deaths that we do, we must impose this measure without fear or favour.

The Government will not.

We will.

It will create problems and Members of this House will hear people giving out about it, as they already do about some of the new provisions. We will deal with that matter.

What about the real problem?

More talk.

We have told the Garda to enforce in numbers and enforce the law. It will create its own difficulties but I agree we cannot allow a situation where 50 people have died in the first five or so weeks of this year.

It has happened.

Even as we speak.

Less talk, more action.

The Taoiseach's time has concluded.