The Minister for Infrastructure has reinstated funding to support
a GCSE designed to improve road safety.
Minister has agreed to fund a scheme
that supports the Motor Vehicle and Road User (MVRUS) GCSE.
The GCSE targets young people, who are sadly over-represented in
road traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
The MVRUS GCSE scheme will support ongoing work in education and
training as part of the Strategic Priority Areas identified in
the Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030, which was
launched in September 2024.
Minister O'Dowd visited St Mark's School in Warrenpoint to meet
pupils who have taken the GCSE and staff who deliver the subject.
The Minister said: “I am delighted to be at St Mark's
today and to hear about the value the school places on the MVRUS
GCSE for helping to prepare young people for making good road
safety decisions.
“Road safety is a priority for me as Minister and this
year I launched a new Road Safety Strategy to help keep our
community safe while using our roads and education is an
important part of that strategy.
“Sadly 68 people had their lives cut short and hundreds
more were seriously injured on our roads last year and we have
already lost lives in 2025. This causes untold
devastation.
“Unfortunately, young drivers are more likely to be
affected by serious road traffic collisions.
“We must all remember every day as road users to make
potentially lifesaving choices, to be more mindful of
others and proceed with care, follow the rules of the road they
are there to protect us and help everyone get home
safe.”
Eamonn McPolin, who has taught the MVRUS GCSE for 20 years, said:
“This subject is very beneficial, particularly for young people
because of its links to road safety.
“Pupils learn skills including the safe use of a moped, which is
such an important practical skill.
“This funding enables schools to purchase mopeds and safety
equipment for the practical element of the course, which is
crucial.”
St Mark's student Amy McCoy, 17, who took the MVRUS GCSE in 2024,
said: “It prepares you for being on the road and helps you to be
a better road user.
“It makes you aware of the possible dangers on the roads and of
road traffic collisions.”
Matthew Blair, 16, said: “I believe what I learned doing this
GCSE will make me a more careful road user as sadly there have
been a lot of people affected by road traffic collisions.
“The mopeds are a big help for us learning how to be a good road
user and that will stay with us.”
Notes to editors
- Owing to budgetary constraints, funding was stopped in
2023-24. This has now been reinstated.
- Fifty eight schools entered 1041 students for the exam in the
summer of 2024.
- The capital funding for the GCSE MVRUS Moped Grant Scheme is
capped at £25k per annum, for the purchase of additional mopeds
for new participating schools and to replace ageing mopeds.
- There is also an £11k resource budget for textbooks and other
equipment such as hi-vis tabards, cones for practical manoeuvres
and helmets.
