Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a committee in the Inishowen area of County Donegal called Public Against Road Carnage who are lobbying to make it compulsory for gardaí to breathalyse all drivers involved in road traffic accidents or to obtain a blood or urine sample for testing for alcohol levels; if he has looked at or intends to consider implementing their proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19330/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are not aware of the organisation referred to or any proposals from them. All members of the Garda Síochána are aware of the powers available to them under the Road Traffic Acts, whereby any driver who is or has been involved in a road traffic collision or who is committing or has committed an offence under the Road Traffic Acts may be required to provide a specimen of breath. Any proposals to amend road traffic legislation are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Transport. In response to the disturbing number of road fatalities in Buncrana District a Garda Traffic Corps Unit was established in the District on a pilot basis with effect from 20 October, 2005. The Unit was in addition to the Traffic Corps personnel already operating in the Donegal Division. An evaluation of this pilot has been concluded and it has been decided that a dedicated Traffic Corp Unit with increased personnel will be based in the Inishowen area. This Unit will comprise one Sergeant and eight Gardaí.

A number of other initiatives have also taken place in the Donegal Division. These include targeted coordinated patrolling of priority roads and junctions at prime times, high visibility checkpoints, which have resulted in a 25% increase in the detection of drivers under the influence of an intoxicant in 2006 to date, and reconstitution of the Donegal road safety working group comprising representatives of An Garda Síochána, Donegal County Council, the Health Service Executive and the National Roads Authority.

Targeted education is an integral part of road traffic policing and in this regard a number of initiatives have been undertaken, including a local media campaign on traffic safety issues, a road safety programme in all primary and secondary schools in the Inishowen area, a driver improvement course in conjunction with the courts and ongoing liaison with driving instructors and the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). The Garda Síochána are, in co-operation with Inishowen Rural Development Limited (IRDL), assessing the training needs of drivers in the area.