The Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has made Regulations (Statutory Instrument No. 472 of 2011) dated 21^st September 2011 entitled "European Communities (Road Infrastructure Safety Management) Regulations 2011" giving effect to EU Directive 2008/96/EC. The Regulations are to apply to roads which form part of the trans-European Road Network (TERN).

One of the effects of these Regulations is the introduction of new requirements for the educational qualifications for Road Safety Auditors operating within Ireland.

Road Safety Auditors will be required to hold a Professional Certificate (Special Purpose Award) equivalent to Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications from the 19^th December 2013 (or an equivalent award validated by another member state of the European Union, or an equivalent award by state not a member of the European Union which has been recognised by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland).

The changes to the educational qualifications required for Road Safety Auditors contained within these Regulations are not necessarily new news, as the European Union directive upon which the Regulations are based was published in November 2008. With this in mind PMCE commenced, in 2010, the process to ensure that our Road Safety Auditors have completed any training required by these new regulations.

The Regulations also give responsibility to the National Roads Authority (NRA) to: -

• prepare guidelines on Continuing Professional Development requirements for Road Safety Auditors
• prepare guidelines for the carrying out of Road Safety Audits
• carry out Safety Rankings of the road network at least every three years
• ensure that road users are informed of the 'high accident concentration sections' identified as part of the Safety Ranking process
• prepare guidelines in relation to Safety Inspections of the road network
• ensure that Safety Inspections of the road network are undertaken