Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the new national speed camera system will be used to gather information on traffic flows, to monitor traffic to enable rapid response to the main traffic congestion situations and accidents; if he will plan for future traffic needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24364/07]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the new national speed camera system will be used to actively pursue road traffic offences and compliance with rules of the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24363/07]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the roll out of the national speed camera system will commence; the details of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24361/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 to 489, inclusive, together.

In accordance with EU Directives, national public procurement procedures and relevant legislation, a Request for Information (RFI) for the provision and operation of safety cameras on behalf of An Garda Síochána was published on the Government's procurement website on 24 November, 2006. Following the evaluation of the submissions received in respect of the RFI a total of six companies/consortia were short-listed in February 2007 to participate in the next stage of the process.

A detailed Request for Tender (RFT) was issued to the six short-listed candidates, with a closing date of 23 August, 2007 set for receipt of tenders. The process of selecting a preferred bidder is well advanced. Roll-out of the cameras would be dependent, inter alia, on the conclusion of contract discussions with the preferred bidder.

The purpose of the safety camera initiative is to enhance overall road safety and help reduce the numbers of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by reducing the incidence of drivers exceeding the speed limits set. The operational 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. Speed monitoring will take place on the basis of a matrix which will link the monitoring to speed related collision data.

With a view to ensuring on-going appropriate deployment of safety cameras, the service provider will conduct regular speed surveys at locations identified as having the greatest propensity for speed related collisions.

The requirements of a system to monitor the individual speed of vehicles and one to gain broader information with a view to traffic management obviously differ. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the safety cameras operated by the service provider will be used for speed enforcement only. It is not currently envisaged that the safety camera system will be used for traffic management or the pursuit of other road traffic offences.