Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Without stepping into an area for which I do not have responsibility, I am assured by the Commissioner and his team that they continue to look at all districts and the resources required therein and that they allocate accordingly.

My role is to ensure that the additional funding is allocated and the resources needed are allocated. We have tried our best in this year's budget to ensure that is the case. The fact that we have an unprecedented budget this year of €1.952 billion will allow us to address some of these concerns.

I share the concerns of Deputy O'Donnell. The figures are frightening, especially given the amount of traffic on the road has decreased significantly. I wish to emphasise the fact that the Garda is not only seeing an increase of this type of crime. The force has been able to identify other areas as well. As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána recommenced Operation Fanacht on 22 October. The Garda has continued its role in the operation and has looked to prevent and detect crime on our roads. In the first seven days of Garda operations, a total of 71 crimes were recorded in the course of the Covid-19 operations that were not related to breaches of regulations. These were mainly road traffic and drug-related. The Garda is focused on this. This is a priority for the Garda even though the force is focused on Covid-19 as well.

The Deputy should note that the Road Safety Authority launched a public consultation to inform the development of the fifth Government road safety strategy that will run from 2021 to 2030. This is something I have no doubt the Garda will address and take on board. I will pass on the Deputy's comments about education. One of the effective tools in recent years has been advertising. Although they can be difficult and upsetting to watch, the advertisements clearly showing the damage that can be done on our roads are effective. When it comes to drugs, it is no different. I look forward to working with the Garda as it implements the strategy and, most important, I will ensure it has the resources to do so.

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