Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the damage caused to speed cameras located in the State; the number of speed cameras in the State which are currently inoperable; the location of same; the length of time they have been out of order; if the Garda is investigating the causes of this damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6814/05]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department is seeking tenders to operate, maintain and administer speed cameras nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7018/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 330 together.

A working group on speed cameras chaired by my Department and consisting of representatives of the Garda Síochána, the Department of Transport and the National Roads Authority is currently examining how the provision, operation and processing of the output of speed cameras would operate, including how camera sites will be chosen. Work is currently well advanced on preparing proposals on how the management of these arrangements will be structured and I expect to formulate proposals shortly.

The Government's road safety strategy 2004-06, published some months ago by the Minister for Transport, notes that successful jurisdictions, such as Victoria in Australia, have benefited from the engagement of private sector interests for the operation of camera and other detection equipment. It is also noticeable in relation to the experience in Victoria that the arrangements in place there greatly facilitate the determination of annual levels of checks for the entire fleet of vehicles.

The strategy therefore proposes that the Garda Síochána will enter into arrangements for the engagement of a private sector concern for the purposes of the provision and operation of a nationwide programme for the detection of speeding offences. Outsourcing of the operation of camera equipment will also free up Garda resources for enforcement purposes. These arrangements may see the project being rolled out on a phased basis and in addition to speeding offences it may extend to other appropriate traffic offences.

Provision of an outsource provider will be made by way of an open and competitive tendering process and a request for tender, RFT, document will issue in due course. In accordance with EU and national procurement guidelines this RFT will be published in the EU Journal and on the Government's procurement website etenders.gov.ie. All tender proposals subsequently received will be evaluated on an individual basis in accordance with the reward criteria that will be set down in the RFT.

The Garda authorities have informed me that there are twenty fixed camera installation posts at various locations in the Dublin area and the Meath-Louth division with three cameras rotated between these locations.

At present nine fixed camera installations are inoperable. This is due to a number of factors including criminal damage, broken glass on the fixed installation posts and road repairs obscuring road markings. The periods of inoperability are between two and eight months. In the latter instance the post was set on fire. The incidents of damage are the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Quotations were sought and financial sanction obtained to carry out necessary repairs in all cases, with the exception of the most recent ones for which quotations have been requested but not yet received. Repairs will be carried out over the coming weeks.

Arrangements are being made with the relevant local authorities to replace the road markings at two of the non-operational fixed camera positions.

Situations such as this are not satisfactory to me and in that regard I might also mention that recently an assistant commissioner was appointed to oversee the various initiatives being taken by the force in relation to the effective management of road traffic issues.