‘A priority issue’ – Simon Harris to hold urgent meeting with Road Safety Authority over increase in road deaths

Mr Harris said there had been a sudden “reversal” of the progress made in recent years to cut fatalities and serious injuries on the roads.

“In recent days my office has reached out to the Road Safety Authority and one of the very early meetings I’m hoping to have in government is with the Road Safety Authority, the gardaí and others,” Mr Harris said at Fairyhouse.

Asked how concerned he was about the high level of road deaths since the start of the year, Mr Harris said it would be a “priority issue” for him and he wanted to consult the experts.

The death toll on Irish roads since January 1 is 38pc higher than the same period a year ago.

A total of 58 people lost their lives on Irish roads in the first three months of this year.

That represents an increase of 16 compared with the first three months of last year.

The 58 people who have died on the roads this year include 11 pedestrians, 24 drivers, 18 passengers, three motorcyclists and two cyclists.

On a claimed link between those deaths and the dramatic reduction in the number of traffic corps gardaí on patrol, Mr Harris said: “I’m very concerned about the trends that we’re seeing in relation to road deaths. How could you not be?

“I’m also very conscious when we talk about road deaths, numbers and statistics, that behind each one of those numbers is a heartbroken family, a life lost, a life shortened or altered, and I’m extremely conscious of that when talking about such a sensitive issue.”

Mr Harris said there has been an “alarming rise” in the number of deaths this year when compared with previous years.

“I do think the gardaí have done an excellent job over the weekend. I thank them for their work,” he said.

“There was an increased number of arrests when it comes to people driving under the influence of either drink or drugs.

“I also obviously want to support the gardaí as well in terms of their own numbers growth. I think there is a broader issue that we need to be concerned about here, which is this idea that it is in any way, shape or form acceptable in anybody’s mind to get behind the wheel of a car when you’re under the influence of either drink or drugs.

“I think we are at a real risk in this country of seeing a reversal of the very significant progress that has been made over many years in relation to road safety. And this will be a priority issue for me in the days ahead.”

An Garda Síochána implemented a bank holiday roads enforcement operation for the Easter weekend in order to protect vulnerable road users and reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions.