15 February 2006

Transport

Number of traffic deaths involving school children

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown for the percentage of deaths and injuries to children in road traffic accidents that occur travelling to and from school.

 Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled “Road Collision Facts”, relates to 2004 and is available in the Oireachtas Library and on the NRA website.

In 2004, seven children under the age of 15 lost their lives and 536 were injured in collisions. This represents 1.8% of fatalities and 6.8% of injuries in that year. The statistics do not provide a breakdown in relation to road deaths and injuries to children in road traffic accidents that occur travelling to and from school.