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Dáil

Written answer

Road Safety Authority

231. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport following the decision in December 2025 to abandon the planned restructuring of the Road Safety Authority, to state which body or individual is now responsible for delivering the Government's target of halving road deaths by 2030; whether the Government has examined the Road Safety Commissioner model or equivalent statutory accountability mechanisms used in Sweden, Norway, and Finland; and if not, the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18575/26]

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250. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport the governance reforms that are being considered to ensure delivery of the national target to halve road deaths by 2030; whether consideration has been given to establishing a statutory Road Safety Commissioner with independent oversight of delivery across agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18969/26]

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263. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine the potential establishment of a statutory road safety commissioner with clear responsibility for overseeing and coordinating national road safety policy and for monitoring progress towards Ireland’s 2030 road safety targets, in view of the increase in road fatalities in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19104/26]

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279. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport to support the establishment of a position of Road Safety Commissioner to oversee the implementation of the Road Safety Strategy, in particular, the aim of achieving a 50% reduction in road deaths in Ireland by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19287/26]

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343. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport if he has any plans to appoint a statutory road safety commissioner with the power to deliver safety targets set for 2030, in light of the increasing death rate on our roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19881/26]

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Seán Canney Minister of State at the Department of Transport Independent

I propose to take Questions Nos. 231, 250, 263, 279 and 343 together.

Road safety is a core priority for me and the Government and the current national framework for road safety is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. 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.

The Phase 2 Action Plan 2025–2027 under the Strategy was published in July 2025. In total, the Phase 2 Plan contains 12 primary and 77 support actions, with the potential to deliver truly transformative change. Actions are being delivered through partnership and collaborative working by road safety stakeholders.

My Department is responsible for the central co-ordination of the Road Safety Strategy and implementation of the Phase 2 Action Plan is overseen at Ministerial level by the Road Safety Leadership Group (RSLG). I chair this Group which is attended by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs. This Group also comprises senior officials from all key road safety partners including An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Health and Safety Authority and the Local Authorities

The Group oversees implementation of the Strategy. Action owners are required to report quarterly on actions in their areas and the RSLG meets quarterly to review these updates and to discuss progress on the delivery of the 12 Primary Actions. Additional updates as required are provided on the 77 support actions.

A Road User Safety Forum is also in place and gives a range of road user and road safety advocates an opportunity to contribute to the Phase 2 Action Plan.

The RSA has the statutory remit for the promotion of public awareness of road safety and of measures, including the advancement of education, relating to the promotion of the safe use of roads. The Deputies may be aware that the Department is developing revised proposals for reform of the RSA while retaining the current overall structure of the Authority. Having considered the recommendations of the 2024 Indecon review of the RSA, Minister O’Brien and I have decided not to replace the RSA by the creation of two new entities. However, we are strongly of the view that change is still needed and that reform of the RSA remains necessary. Updated reform proposals, including consideration of using high-profile road safety ambassadors, will be informed by the findings of the Indecon review and experience over the last year. I will present these proposals to Government in the coming weeks.

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