‘Super agency’ to incorporate NSC

THE Department of Transport has challenged media reports which suggested it wanted to abolish the National Safety Council (NSC) — the Government agency with responsibility for reducing the number of deaths on Irish roads.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Martin Cullen insisted yesterday that the role of the NSC would be maintained within a new super agency, to be called the Driver Testing Standards Authority.

Legislation necessary to establish the agency, which will also have responsibility for overseeing driver testing and licensing, will come before the Dáil in the autumn.

It will also administer a system for registering and monitoring driving schools and instructors.

AA Ireland spokesman Conor Faughnan, who is a member of the existing NSC board, said the new authority had the potential to bring about a better situation with regard to road safety.

He described the NSC’s annual budget of 4m as “derisory” in the context of more than 400 road deaths each year.

“It is a pitifully small amount which has forced the NSC to live a hand-to-mouth existence,” said Mr Faughnan.

However, he expressed concern about the potential of the message of road safety to get lost within the proposed Driver Testing Standards Authority.

Mr Faughnan dismissed suggestions that the decision to replace the NSC was linked to recent questioning by its chairman, Eddie Shaw, of Mr Cullen’s commitment to road safety.

Mr Shaw expressed frustration at legislative delays in implementing the full penalty points system, as well as the introduction of random breath testing.

Mr Cullen’s spokesperson said the Government was determined to create a new, super authority in order to strengthen current measures to improve road safety.

“It has become increasingly apparent that road safety and driving standards are inextricably linked,” the spokesperson said.

“It is very important to achieve a synergy from the various bodies which have responsibility for these areas, and we believed it is best reached by having experts from both areas working in tandem in the new body,” he added.

He pointed out that the additional expertise and resources which will be given to the new authority should alleviate fears about road safety not getting sufficient priority.