The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, has said he believes the gardaí should concentrate more on country roads rather than on motorways in an effort to reduce the number of fatalities.
He said that would be one of the issues addressed at next week's meeting on road safety.
While the death toll on the roads so far this year stands at 275 , 41 more than the same period last year, Minister Brennan said that overall the number of people dying on Irish roads was still down when compared to the years before the penalty points system.
Mr Brennan also noted that further legislation will be introduced over the coming months which will reduce the speed limit on country roads, allow gardaí to randomly breath test any driver and provide for more speed cameras.
He also said that he wished to stay in the Department of Transport after the Cabinet reshuffle.
