John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures he has put in place since January 2004 to address the number of fatal road traffic accidents; the resources which have been made available to the Garda Síochána to address this in view of the many lives that are shattered as a result of a fatal road traffic accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21867/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The toll of deaths and serious injuries on our roads is a cause of serious concern for me. Huge strides have been made by the Government in improving the safety on our roads by building new ones, upgrading existing ones and setting appropriate speed limits. Unfortunately, the fact remains that all too many road users do not act responsibly in their use of the roads. In these circumstances, the Garda Síochána must give a high priority to enforcing the law with regard to road users. One of the strategic goals in the Government Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 and the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy 2005-2007 is reducing the incidence of fatal and serious injury collisions. There are significant developments under way in this area.

Last November I announced the establishment by the commissioner of a Garda traffic corps. The Deputy will also be aware that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government. As each cycle of recruit training is completed, the Garda Commissioner will assign these new members to the areas of greatest need with particular regard to certain priorities, which include the traffic corps. I am informed that the strength of the Garda traffic corps over the next four years will be as set out hereunder:

The traffic corps will reach its planned staffing complement in 2008. I also published the Garda strategic review of traffic policing last November. The strategic review is a blueprint for a transformation in the enforcement of road traffic law. A key recommendation of the strategic review is that a new position of assistant commissioner in charge of all aspects of road traffic law should be created. The Government subsequently approved the appointment of Mr. Eddie Rock as assistant commissioner and the Commissioner then gave him responsibility for traffic matters including the traffic corps. Assistant Commissioner Rock is a member of the top management team in the force and brings authority and visible leadership to the traffic corps from the outset. He has been tasked with implementing the recommendations contained in the strategic review of traffic policing.

The Government has also approved a new road safety strategy for the period 2004-06. The strategy proposes that 11.1 million vehicle speeding checks be carried out per year by the end of the strategy. In order to enable this target to be achieved, the strategy proposes that the Garda Síochána enter into arrangements for the engagement of a private sector concern for the purpose of the provision and operation of a nationwide programme for the detection of speeding offences. The strategy makes clear that the overall performance criteria to be applied to the outsourced detection of speeding offences would be determined by the Garda Síochána and camera detection facilities would be used at locations where the Garda Síochána determines there is an established or prospective risk of collisions. The purpose of the initiative will be to increase road safety and thereby reduce death and injuries, not increase revenue. Outsourcing of the operation of camera equipment would enable the Garda to withdraw from non-core policing matters and so would free up Garda resources for enforcement purposes, thus allowing gardaí to concentrate on detections requiring direct interception, such as driving while intoxicated.

A working group chaired by my Department, and consisting of representatives of the Garda Síochána, the Department of Transport and the National Roads Authority has reported to me and my colleague, the Minister for Transport, on how the provision, operation and processing of the output of speed cameras might operate. We expect to bring proposals to Government shortly. I am informed by the Garda authorities that each Garda division has identified 30 locations, utilising internal and external sources of information, where specific intercept enforcement can be conducted with a view to reducing deaths and injuries on our roads. Priority is given to the prevention and detection of drink driving, seat belt, speeding and road transport-road haulage offences. An ongoing monthly schedule of enforcement and visibility measures at 30 locations is being implemented. Locations and schedules are varied where appropriate.

In addition, co-ordinated national corridor operations are being conducted to ensure visibility and visible enforcement along national routes. National co-ordinated operations are also conducted targeting drink driving, where the focus is on access and egress routes to and from selected urban centres, and heavy goods vehicles, where the focus is on road transport-road haulage offences. I am further informed by the Garda Síochána that other road traffic initiatives are also undertaken locally based on local intelligence and available internal and external sources of information.