Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I would like thank the Deputy for raising the serious issue of speeding on our roads. The increase in the number of road traffic fatalities in 2016 and the early indications of a similar figure in the year to date highlights the need to continue to deploy all effective measures to reduce speeding, and therefore road traffic collisions. Road safety is of course a shared responsibility and it is incumbent upon us all to play our part by driving within the speed limit.

As the Deputy will be aware, the methods employed by An Garda Síochána in the detection or prevention of any offence are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, and I have no direct role in relation to them. While the deployment of Garda safety cameras must comply with road traffic legislation and relevant provisions of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work legislation and regulations, I am advised that there are no requirements to have identification/markings on Garda Safety Camera vans.

I am further advised that An Garda Síochána deploy both marked and unmarked vehicles on enforcement duties as both have a role to play in an effective enforcement programme with a view to preventing the commission of offences, detecting errant motorists, changing their behaviour and ultimately reducing death and injuries on our roads

Separately, under the terms of the contract for the outsourced provision and operation of safety cameras, the service provider deploys vehicles which are marked with high-visibility reflective material and which display safety camera symbols. Furthermore, the location of the zones in which these cameras operate are detailed on the Garda website (www.garda.ie). The contract also provides for surveying to be undertaken, for which the company utilises unmarked vehicles to observe and record the speeds at which vehicles are currently travelling.