Written answers

Tuesday, 4 April 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Road Traffic Offences

9:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it remains Garda policy not to mount speed checks on motorways other than by fixed cameras. [13309/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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A traffic corps, headed by an assistant commissioner, was established within the Garda Síochána in November 2004. The number of gardaí assigned exclusively to traffic duties is increasing dramatically — from approximately 530 members of the traffic corps in 2004 to 803 in 2006, 1030 in 2007 and 1,200 in 2008. Some 240 additional gardaí will join the corps in the course of 2006.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that traffic policy demands vary from place to place and time to time. It is a matter for local Garda management to schedule operations to meet what is required and provide optimum use of resources. A structured approach is applied to speed enforcement based on the analysis of trends in speed related collisions both from the knowledge of the gardaí at a local level and statistical analysis by the National Roads Authority and the most effective means of enforcement.

The health and safety of the members performing the speed checks is also a factor in their location. Taking account of the information available and local knowledge and where necessary following consultations with local authorities, the Garda Síochána selects specific locations within each division where, in addition to its effectiveness, speed enforcement can be conducted safely.

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