Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of Trafficwatch; the plan for its development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28046/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Traffic Watch is a dedicated telephone line that allows responsible road users to report any incidents of bad or dangerous driving offences they have witnessed. Traffic Watch calls are answered and administered at the Garda Information Service Centre (GISC) which is located in Castlebar. The centre is staffed on a twenty four hour basis by trained call takers who are civilian members of An Garda Síochána. The centre receives in the region of 13,000 calls per annum.

I am also informed that call operators record the Traffic Watch incident on PULSE. If the incident reported is deemed to be urgent the phone operator telephones the relevant Divisional Communications Centre outlining the specific details of the incident in order that the offending vehicle can be intercepted. In cases where the incident reported is not deemed to be urgent the message is forwarded by fax to the relevant District Office where an investigating member will be appointed to examine the incident. I am further informed that the Traffic Watch system is currently being reviewed. Any changes identified to improve the effectiveness of the service will be considered.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will procure data from the Garda and the Courts Service on the number of drivers who have been prosecuted for an offence under the Railway Safety Act 2005, section 138 — bridge strikes, in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28571/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the details requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.