Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if legislation will be introduced to allow for camera-based enforcement of traffic laws including the laws for bus and cycle lanes, red lights, and speeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18896/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am happy to inform the Deputy that such a legal framework is in fact already in place.

Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 provides for the use of cameras, if so required, by the Gardaí to assist in the detection of certain traffic offences under the Road Traffic Acts. The offences specified include those made under Section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 which is the basis for the current Traffic and Parking Regulations covering, among other things, the offences mentioned by the Deputy.

With regard to bus and cycle lane enforcement, my Department maintains that the success of such priority measures is an essential component in people moving from cars to more sustainable modes of transport, thereby reducing emissions and congestion.  It is therefore necessary to ensure that we have the best possible system for enforcement of the rules on both bus and cycle lanes, particularly in the context of BusConnects.  Officials in my Department are currently engaging with the National Transport Authority and other stakeholders to see how this can best be achieved, taking account of the robust existing provisions and without undermining their effectiveness.