John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 908: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to privatise speed cameras here; the progress made to date of any such plans; the potential cost of such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25172/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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A working group chaired by my Department and consisting of representatives of the Garda Síochána, the Department of Transport and the National Roads Authority reported to me and my colleague the Minister for Transport in June of this year on how the provision, operation and processing of the output of speed cameras might be outsourced to the private sector as a non-core Garda function. We subsequently brought forward proposals to the Government and received approval for the initiative on 25 July 2005.

The purpose of this initiative is to enhance overall road safety and help reduce the numbers of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The Garda Síochána, as the traffic law enforcement agency in the State, will be responsible for the project. The performance criteria to be applied will be determined by the Garda Síochána, and the deployment of cameras will be focused on locations where there is an established or prospective risk of collisions. As well as making a significant contribution to road safety, this initiative will release Garda resources so that their enforcement efforts can be concentrated on other motoring offences which cause death and serious injury such as drink driving, dangerous driving and careless driving.

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

Legislation is being drafted by my colleague the Minister for Transport which will enable the engagement of the private sector in the operation of speed cameras. The Garda authorities inform me that preparatory work with regard to the tendering process has commenced. I am not in a position at this time to indicate to the Deputy the potential cost of the project as this will depend, inter alia, on the tenders received.