Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to the tender process for the provision of speed cameras; the proposed timetable for the installation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14077/08]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the rollout of 6000 hours of speed camera enforcement will be delivered; the amount it is estimated to cost; the reason the supposedly prohibitive estimated cost of the speed camera rollout was not taken into consideration before it was included in the Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012 in Autumn 2007; the further reason he did not allocate additional funding from his Department's budget for 2008 to the rollout of the speed camera programme; if he has requested additional funding from the Department of Finance for the national speed camera rollout; the number of speed camera hours currently in operation across the road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9611/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 84 together.

A tender process for procuring an outsourced safety camera network is under way. During this process issues arose because it emerged that costs involved would be substantially higher than had been estimated when the matter was considered by Government previously, which necessitated a further examination of the matter by Government. The Government has confirmed that it will be proceeding with the outsourcing of a countrywide safety camera network and the financial resources necessary to do so will be provided. The tender process is at an advanced stage, and it is expected that contract negotiations with the preferred bidder will commence shortly.

As the tender process is not complete I am not in a position to indicate at this time the cost of the project nor was it possible to allocate an amount in the 2008 Estimates. I am informed by the Garda authorities that they currently operate a range of mobile speed detection equipment, including six Gatso vans (mobile units with on-board cameras, radar and a computer system) throughout the State. There is also a number of fixed camera installation posts at various locations in the Dublin area and the Louth/Meath Division and cameras are rotated between these posts.

The financial resources allocated to traffic related duties increased from €3.7 million in 2007 to €11 million in this year's Estimates, in addition to the amount which will be allocated for the safety camera network. An Garda Síochána have been authorised to replace the GATSO systems currently operating with eight new state of the art mobile speed cameras. These will be operational not later than June. This will take place against the background of an increase in the Garda Traffic Corps of 170 this year and 225 last year, bringing the strength of the Corps to 1,200 by end of the year.

In addition, approval has also been given for the Gardaí to acquire an Automated Number Plate Recognition System for up to 100 Garda vehicles, which among many features, will have a speed detection capability. Gardaí will also continue to use over 400 hand held detection devices available to them.