Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of speed cameras currently in operation; the number in operation in 2005; and the revenue raised from same. [24783/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of extra speed cameras which will be introduced; the timescale for same; and the number which will be operated by the private sector. [24784/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the estimated revenue per year that private companies will receive from the State for the operation of speed cameras; and where this money will come from. [24785/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost to operate speed cameras in 2005. [24786/06]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of funding collected in speeding fines in 2005; the way in which this funding was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24771/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 to 430, inclusive, and 474 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 2005 a total amount of €14,283,000 was collected through the Garda Vote for offences committed under the Road Traffic Acts. This covers all offences under the Road Traffic Acts for which fines were collected. It is not possible to state precisely the exact amount collected in speeding fines as the fines collected are not categorised according to the type of offence committed.

I am further informed that a total of €7,526,000 was collected through the Courts Vote for offences committed under the Road Traffic Acts. This is made up of moneys collected for speeding cases prosecuted through the Courts.

As the 2005 Accounts are still being audited, these figures are provisional pending completion of the Appropriation Account Audit. All monies received are surrendered to the Exchequer as extra exchequer receipts and are accounted for in the Appropriation Accounts.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that there is a range of mobile speed detection equipment, including six Gatso vans (a mobile unit with on board cameras, radar, and computer system), in operation throughout the State. There is also currently in use by the Garda Síochána laser speed detection equipment, including in excess of 400 hand held speed detection devices and car/motor cycle systems. There are also three cameras rotated between fixed camera installation posts, two in the Louth/Meath Division and one in Dublin. There are twenty fixed camera installation posts at various locations in the Dublin area and Louth/Meath Division.

The cost of operating speed cameras in 2005 is not readily identifiable in the context of the overall budget. The outsourcing of safety cameras as proposed under the Government Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 is being progressed. A private sector group has been engaged to provide procurement support services required to facilitate the outsourcing of the provision and operation of a nationwide safety camera programme. The formal request for tenders will issue upon enactment of supporting legislation by the Oireachtas.

The purpose of the speed camera initiative is to enhance overall road safety and help reduce the numbers of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The performance criteria to be applied will be determined by An Garda Síochána, and the deployment of cameras will be focused on locations where there is an established or prospective risk of collisions. The Garda Síochána, as the traffic law enforcement agency in the State, will be responsible for the outsourcing project. The Garda authorities inform me that the safety camera project will commence with approximately 500-600 locations countrywide (about 15-20 locations per local authority area). Speed checks will take place at these locations at times decided by a matrix which will link the checks to speed related collision data. The number of locations will be increased as necessary to achieve the targeted road safety objectives of increasing compliance with speed limits across the entire road network, reducing the speed of vehicles at locations that have a speed related collision history and acting as a deterrent to driving at excessive speed.

To retain public support for the safety camera project there will be no linkage to the revenue that may be collected as fixed charges or court fines. The project will focus on its primary objective of reducing excessive speed and thereby reducing death and serious injury. The moneys collected from the fixed charges will be paid directly to the Exchequer. There will also be revenue from court imposed fines.