John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the situation in relation to traffic breaking the rules at traffic signals; if any traffic signals are set up with cameras to catch such law breakers; if any existing camera system by other agencies could be used; his views on same; and if he will set up some pilot projects to check their performance. [18374/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Road traffic offences committed by road users such as non-compliance with traffic lights, which is often referred to as 'red light running', are enforced by the Garda Síochána. The Gardaí have power to gather evidence of the commission of such offences through the use of cameras or other such technology.

Dublin City Council set up a traffic camera at a specific junction on a pilot basis some years ago to gauge the instances of red light running and, the impact on traffic movements at that location. This test camera operation was used for data gathering purposes as opposed to enforcement purposes.

To date, the use of cameras by the Garda Síochána to gather evidence of the commission of road traffic offences has been confined mainly to the detection of speeding offences. However, the use of traffic cameras or similar equipment to gather evidence to enforce a range of other road traffic offences is permitted under section 21 of the Road Traffic Act 2002, as amended under section 15 of the Road Traffic Act 2004. The scope of this section was expanded recently under section 17 of the Road Traffic Act 2006 to include that camera evidence could be used in the prosecution of "bridge strike" offences. The decision to use camera equipment to obtain evidence of the commission of offences is an operational matter for the Garda Síochána.