John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I apologise to Deputy Deenihan for the absence of the Minister Justice, Equality and Law Reform who unfortunately is unable to be present due to other business.

The Government attaches a high priority to road safety and the prevention of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. This commitment is set out in concrete form in its road safety strategy. One of the actions in the strategy is the provision of a network of safety cameras. In pursuance of this action, the Garda Síochána is engaged in a procurement process for outsourcing the provision and operation of safety cameras, in accordance with EU directives, national public procurement procedures and relevant legislation. As a result, a preferred supplier has been selected.

Discussions are taking place between the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Transport and Finance and the Garda with a view to making every effort to proceed with this project as quickly as possible. In the current economic climate, we must do everything possible to achieve value for money, especially on a project of this scale. The aim, however, is to proceed with this project as soon as possible. Until contract discussions are concluded, it is not possible to indicate a timescale for the project.

We cannot and will not become complacent, as even one death or injury on our roads is too many. The Departments and agencies responsible for road safety are tackling rigorously driver behaviour in the context of the road safety strategy. One of the strategic goals in the Garda Síochána corporate strategy 2007-09 is to significantly reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries on the roads and improve road safety. The Garda Síochána continues to focus its enforcement activities on the main causes of death and serious injury on the roads, speeding, drink driving and failure to wear safety belts.

The Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the National Roads Authority, has completed an extensive analysis of the collision history on the road network. Sections of road have been identified where a significant proportion of collisions occurred in which speed was deemed the primary contributory factor. The public will continue to be made aware of roads which have been identified as having a propensity for speed related collisions, including through the Garda website.

Considerable resources are now available for traffic policing. There has been a significant increase in the personnel of the traffic corps which stood at 1,092 at the end of March, an increase of 92% since 2005. The emphasis of Garda speed enforcement is on the use of mobile speed cameras, and the force's capacity in this area has been substantially enhanced recently. In September 2008, the Minister, in conjunction with the Garda Commissioner, launched eight new Garda mobile speed detection vehicles. These state-of-the-art vehicles represent a substantial upgrading of the resources available to the Garda Síochána to address the problem of speeding on our roads. The Garda Síochána also has over 400 hand-held speed detection devices. In addition, there are several fixed camera installation posts at various locations in the Dublin area and the Louth-Meath division, and cameras are rotated between these posts.

The Garda authorities have also procured an automated number plate recognition system, ANPR and are finalising its roll-out. The new system allows for automatic in-car detection by the Garda Síochána of stolen vehicles, untaxed vehicles and vehicles on Garda lists. The Garda, therefore, will not only gain improved intelligence on persons known to them, be able to deny the use of roads to criminals and detect drivers who do not pay their motor tax, but they will also have enhanced traffic law enforcement capabilities, including the detection of speeding.

These initiatives are contributing to the significant progress being made in the area of road safety. Looking at the overall figures, the trend in fatal collisions has been favourable for the past number of years, decreasing from 365 in 2006 to 338 in 2007 and to 279 last year. Progress in reducing fatalities is continuing in 2009. To date this year, 16 fewer people have been killed on our roads, compared with the same period last year. Every effort will be made to ensure this progress continues. I can assure the Deputy that saving lives through making our roads safer will remain an absolute Government priority, including taking effective, efficient and targeted measures to reduce speeding.

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