Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when action number 26 of the Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012 for the roll out of 6,000 hours per month of speed camera monitoring on roads here will occur; if a company (details supplied) is the preferred bidder to operate the national speed camera programme; if he, the Department of Transport or the Department of Finance is providing funding for the national speed camera roll out; his views on recent criticisms on this matter by the European Transport Safety Council which highlighted the role of speed cameras in reducing excessive speed and road deaths in the Netherlands, France, Finland and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28387/09]

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will outline the progress to date of the implementation of the speed camera programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29664/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 73 together.

I welcome the finding of the European Transport Safety Council in a report issued last June that Ireland is now the sixth lowest out of the 27 EU Member States in the number of road deaths per million population in 2008.

The Garda authorities are progressing the implementation of a safety camera network as provided for in the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2007 - 2012. An Garda Síochána is engaged in a procurement process, in accordance with EU Directives, national public procurement procedures and relevant legislation, for the provision and operation of the cameras.

Every effort is being made to proceed with this project as speedily as possible. A preferred bidder has been selected, and contract discussions are currently underway. Until these discussions are concluded, it is not possible to indicate details of the proposed introduction of or a specific timetable for the project.

Decisions on the provision of funding for the project will be made in the context of the 2010 Estimates and in accordance with existing Government decisions.