"I send my condolences to their families" - Taoiseach on recent road tragedies in Kilkenny and other counties

The Government will take the “necessary steps” to reduce road deaths, the Taoiseach has said.

Simon Harris issued a plea to drivers to slow down ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

His comments came after five people died in separate crashes across the Republic of Ireland over the last weekend, including here in Kilkenny.

Mr Harris said: “I want to express my deep sorrow at the loss of the five people who were killed on Irish roads in recent days.

“I send my condolences to their families, their friends and their communities. These are devastating losses.

He added: “113 people have now lost their lives on Irish roads this year – an increase of 16 in comparison to the same period last year.

“As a country, we had made significant progress in reducing the number of people losing their lives on Irish roads in recent years.

“That progress is at risk. These are not statistics, they are lost lives and shattered families.

“We are now at a critical juncture.

“We must take steps – as individuals, as communities, as a country – to reverse the trend and prevent more lives being lost.

“Government will play its part and will take the necessary steps, but we need the help of every driver across the country.

“As we approach the August bank holiday weekend, I am urging everyone to slow down, put the phone away and never, ever take a drink or drugs before getting into a car.

“Lives can be saved by taking these simple but important steps to help keep each other safe.”

On Sunday, two people died in a crash involving three motorcycles.

A motorcyclist, a man in his 30s, and his pillion passenger, a man in his 40s, were pronounced dead at the scene in Bellaney, Co Meath.

Later that same day, another man died in a single-car crash in Navan, Co Meath.

On Saturday, a 14-year-old boy who had been travelling on an e-scooter died after being struck by a car in Co Kilkenny.

Earlier on Saturday, a 40-year-old man died in a crash near Kinsale, Co Cork.

In Northern Ireland, police have appealed for witnesses after a motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a car in Co Down.

The rider who died in Sunday’s collision was a man in his 50s.