John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda traffic corps in counties Sligo and Leitrim to address road safety; if additional personnel will be appointed; when they will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31125/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Sligo-Leitrim divisional traffic unit as at 18 October 2005 was 15, all ranks.

Last November, I announced the establishment by the Commissioner of a Garda traffic corps with a dedicated budget and staff structure. Furthermore, as a result of the Government's approval of my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, the Garda Commissioner will be in a position, as each cycle of recruit training is completed, to assign additional new members to the areas of greatest need with particular regard to certain priorities. These priorities will include the traffic corps, which is in the process of increasing its numbers from 520 members to its planned staffing complement of 1,200 by 2008 on the following phased basis:

Also last November, I published the Garda strategic review of traffic policing. The strategic review is the 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 an additional Garda assistant commissioner, and the Commissioner appointed an assistant commissioner with responsibility for all traffic matters including the traffic corps and implementation of the recommendations contained in the strategic review of traffic policing. The Assistant Commissioner is a member of the top management team in the force and as such is bringing authority and visible leadership to the traffic corps and traffic law enforcement generally from the outset.

Never before has road traffic safety been given this level of priority within the Garda Síochána. I believe that the Garda traffic corps, with new visible leadership, increased strength, expanded fleet, dedicated budget, clear strategy and tough targets, will provide an extremely effective traffic management resource which will reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on our roads.