Cyclists and pedestrians should be appointed to the new board of the National Safety Council (NSC), a group representing the interests of cyclists said today.
The Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) said, under the existing system, both categories of road user were excluded from the board, whose term ends on April 14th next.
PRO of the ICC David Maher said cyclists and pedestrians were also excluded from the NSC's Road Safety Committee.
"The domination of the NSC by sections of the motoring industry such as the AA, the Motor insurers and the National Roads Authourity (NRA) has left vulnerable road users voiceless in their campaign for safer roads.
"Currently there is no forum for cyclists or pedestrians to express their concerns in this area".
He said it was "a very worrying development" that there had been no debate on the make-up of the NSC board
He said repeated letters to the Minister for Transport Martin Cullen on the issue had been ignored.
A spokesman for the National Safety Council said it would be inappropriate to comment on the issue. "It is up to the Department of Transport and particularly the Minister for Transport to appoint the board," he said.
The NSC's function is to to reduce the number of road- and fire-related fatalities and injuries using education programmes, media campaigns and public relations activities.
It was established in December 1987 and is funded by grants from the Department of Transport, the Irish Insurance Federation and supplemented by partnerships and sponsorships.
A spokeswoman for Mr Cullen refused to comment on the possible make-up of the NSC board. But she added: "I can confirm the Minister has received a letter from the Irish Cycling Campaign seeking a meeting". She said Mr Cullen would respond to the group in due course.
