Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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276. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the wording of the directive stating that from 1 January 2017 bills from An Garda Síochána to persons and families of persons suffering serious injury due to road traffic collisions would be capped at €1,000 and families bereaved due to fatal road traffic collisions would be waived for copies of road traffic collision documentation; if all garda divisions are implementing this directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30936/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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277. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a directive was sent by Garda HQ to all Garda districts and superintendents informing them of the waiver of fees for copies of road traffic collision documentation for bereaved families from 1 January 2017; the date that the directive was sent out by Garda HQ; the wording of that directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30939/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer for the Garda Síochána Vote. I understand, however, that persons involved in road traffic collisions, their legal advisers or insurers or other interested parties may, on written request, be supplied with an abstract of the Garda report in respect of the collision, copies of statements of witnesses and sketches or maps of the scene. Abstracts and statements are not normally supplied until any criminal proceedings are concluded and, in the case of fatal traffic collisions, until the inquest concerning the death has been completed by the Coroner.

I understand that the fees charged are generally designed to recoup administrative costs incurred in the preparation and processing of requests for abstracts and statements and that they are kept under ongoing review. I have, however, been informed by the Garda authorities that, following discussions and consultation with victim support groups and other agencies, the following arrangements apply with effect from 1 January 2017 and in respect of applications received after that date:

- fees in respect of fatal road traffic collisions will be waived (one copy per applicant);

- fees in respect of road traffic collisions resulting in serious injury will be capped at €1,000 (one copy per applicant);

- in circumstances where the investigation of a road traffic collision remains ongoing and criminal proceedings are being contemplated or have already been initiated, or in circumstances where an Inquest has not been completed by the Coroner, abstracts will not be supplied. However, a reduced or amended abstract form containing ‘appropriate information’ as provided for in section 106(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended, will be provided free-of-charge;

- the following fees will be payable in respect of applications in respect of road traffic collisions resulting in material damage:

I have been informed that an instruction in this regard has now been issued by the Garda authorities and that arrangements will be put in place for appropriate refunds to be made in respect of applications received since 1 January 2017.