I welcome the publication of the National Safety Camera Strategy. I do so not only as a TD but also as Chair of the Joint Committee on Transport, for which, as the Minister of State will be aware, road safety has become one of the most urgent and consistent issues for discussion. As the Minister of State will be aware, in recent months the committee has undertaken a focused programme of work in this area. Of course, that is against the backdrop of a continued increase in road fatalities, with the most recent figures confirming the highest number of deaths in recent years. There were 190 lives lost last year. Fifty-eight have so far been lost this year. I personally thank the Minister of State for his close co-operation with the committee's work. The Minister of State is due to appear before the committee in the coming weeks. Of course, every statistic represents a family and a community dealing with devastating loss. I mention also the serious impacts that extend far beyond fatalities, including long-term disability, loss of employment, family trauma and mental health impacts. Only today, the joint committee heard evidence from Alcohol Action Ireland that Ireland has the lowest rate of roadside breath testing in the European Union. That should concern every one of us in this House. We must, therefore, recognise a very simple truth, that technology alone will not solve the road safety crisis that we face. Nonetheless, I want to be clear. We can and should invest in cameras, in enforcement technology and in data-led interventions. Cameras detect speeding. They can identify people running red lights and support safer driving behaviour. That is why this strategy is so important and most welcome. The expansion of fixed safety cameras, average speed cameras, red light enforcement and a broader use of intelligence enforcement technology represents a significant step forward. International evidence shows us that these measures can reduce collisions and save lives. We had 200,000 road traffic offences last year with 126,000 related to speeding, of which 45,000 were for exceeding the 100 km/h speed limit. I acknowledge the work being done across the Government, in particular by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and by An Garda Síochána, the RSA, local authorities, victim advocacy groups like PARC, and many other organisations and NGOs to modernise our approach to road safety. However, if we are serious about reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads, we cannot consider or treat this strategy as the silver bullet. While it is important, the reality is that cameras do not pull over impaired drivers or detect drunk or drug driving on the roadside. We know from evidence this morning that alcohol is a factor in one third of all fatalities. Cameras do not replace Garda roads policing units operating in our communities, on rural and regional roads, and at times when dangerous behaviour is most prevalent. That is why any serious road safety strategy must include a substantial strengthening of our roads policing unit, which currently stands at in the region of 650 members. Back in 2010 when we had 1 million fewer cars on the road, I believe it stood at 1,050. More gardaí assigned to our roads policing unit is crucial. It means greater roadside testing capability and stronger enforcement against drink driving, drug driving and insurance offences. It means ensuring that enforcement is visible, consistent and nationwide. Of course, enforcement alone is not enough. Road safety begins with road design and too many of our roads are unforgiving, particularly in rural areas. There are junctions that people fear using every day, roads without safe walking or cycling infrastructure and communities divided by dangerous driving conditions. That is why we need sustained investment in safer infrastructure. We need greater delivery of low-cost safety-improvement schemes, which is crucial. We need safer junctions, better lighting, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings and segregated cycling infrastructure. We need to continue to invest in active travel. Better and safer walking and cycling infrastructure not only supports climate and health goals but it saves lives. I assure this House and the Minister of State of the focused work that is ongoing by the transport committee. We intend to provide leadership by identifying concrete actions and making strong recommendations to the Government and other relevant agencies, including key actions that can be implemented in a timely manner. We all agree that we need urgency and, above all else, delivery. Every statistic in road accidents represents a person, a family and a community devastated. While I welcome this strategy and the positive role that technology can play, I believe we must now match that ambition with stronger enforcement, better investment, better planning of infrastructure, better co-ordination and political will. I again acknowledge the strength of that political will in the Minister of State. If we do that, this strategy can become part of a genuine turning point in road safety in Ireland.

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