137. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine the introduction of a multidisciplinary investigation model for fatal and serious road collisions, similar to the system operating in Finland, bringing together expertise in policing, road engineering, vehicle safety, medicine and behavioural science to identify contributory factors and make recommendations aimed at preventing future collisions. [63674/26]

I thank the Deputy for raising this important road safety matter.

Ireland’s road safety policy is grounded in the Safe System approach, which recognises that road safety requires coordinated action across speed, roads and roadsides, vehicles, road users, post-collision response, enforcement, education and data.

That approach is reflected in the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 and its Phase 2 Action Plan, which were developed with expert input and are informed by Irish collision experience and international best practice.

It is important to note that the investigation of individual road traffic collisions is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Responsibility for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána rests with the Garda Commissioner under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, and it would not be appropriate for me to direct how individual investigations are conducted.

However, I fully recognise the importance of ensuring that lessons are drawn from fatal and serious collisions in a structured and evidence-based way.

There are already arrangements in place to support this. Where a fatal collision occurs, the relevant local authority engineer and the investigating member of An Garda Síochána meet at the collision site and jointly complete a collision report form, recording matters such as road conditions, signage, road markings, speed limit and the roadside environment.

That information is submitted to the Roads Management Office and may also form part of the file prepared for the Coroner.

My Department also funds Network Safety Analysis of the regional and local road network, using collision data to identify high-collision locations and support targeted safety schemes. In 2026, €14 million was allocated under the Safety Improvement Schemes Grant, supporting more than 300 schemes nationally.

We are also strengthening the data-sharing framework through the National Vehicle and Driver File, Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2026, which will enable local authorities to request, receive and process road collision data from both the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána.

The Government’s immediate priority is delivery of the Phase 2 Action Plan under the Road Safety Strategy, which was informed by expert input, Irish collision experience and international best practice.

I am open to considering relevant international models, including the Finnish multidisciplinary approach, to see whether further learning could usefully inform Ireland’s road safety framework, having regard to the roles of An Garda Síochána, Coroners, road authorities and relevant data protection requirements.

My Department will continue to work with the relevant agencies to ensure that collision data and post-collision analysis are used effectively to reduce risk and prevent further deaths and serious injuries on our roads.