Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of traffic corps personnel on road duty on a typical day on average in the Dublin area; and the number in the greater Dublin area. [41158/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the length of the typical day for a traffic corps garda; when the night shift commences; and the number of gardaí from the traffic corps normally on duty after peak times in the Dublin area and in the greater Dublin area. [41159/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.

Traffic Corps personnel deployments are designed to optimise service delivery and are intended to match as closely as possible operational demands in the areas of both traffic management and traffic law enforcement.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that peak traffic times in Dublin on weekdays are approximately 07.00 to 10.30 and 16.00 to 20.00, when the primary focus of Traffic Corps personnel is on traffic management.

It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel, including Traffic Corps personnel, in accordance with requirements. Such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, This ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible service is provided to the public. I am informed that the strength of the Traffic Corps in the Dublin Metropolitan Region as of 15 November was 263 members.

The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Traffic has been tasked with implementing the recommendations contained in the Strategic Review of Traffic Policing which will see 1,200 personnel attached to the Traffic Corps by 2008. This increase of personnel is taking place on a phased basis as the strength of An Garda Síochána increases to 14,000.

Members of the Garda Síochána who are not members of the Traffic Corps have the responsibility, inter alia, to deal with traffic duties when breaches of road traffic law occur. Marked and unmarked patrol vehicles driven by these members are therefore also available for road traffic law enforcement on a daily basis.