Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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645. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the operational guidelines for forensic traffic investigators have been updated since 2007; if a review and urgent update of these guidelines will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7034/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including all operational matters. I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda Forensic Collision Investigators provide expert analysis of collision scenes to determine the root cause of collisions.

I am further informed that the An Garda Síochána Roads Policing Manual, which issued in 2014, provided updated guidelines in respect of Forensic Collision Investigations. An update of the 2014 Manual is currently under way.

I am assured that An Garda Síochána continually review the operational effectiveness of units and processes and this is similarly the case with Forensic Collision Investigators where technology and practices are evolving.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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646. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fatal road traffic collisions each year from 2016 to 2020; the number of drivers involved per year; the number of drivers in which the status of their driver licence or learner permit is unknown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7035/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that road safety remains a high priority for An Garda Síochána and for my Department, working closely in cooperation with the Department of Transport. Any fatality or serious injury is of great concern.

An Garda Síochána is responsible for collating information regarding road traffic collisions and I am advised by An Garda Síochána of the following information as requested by the Deputy.

The following table contains the following information for each year from 2016 to 2020:

- The number of fatal collisions for each year.

- The total number of drivers involved in these fatal collisions.

- The number of these drivers whose licence status is either unknown or currently under investigation.

I have been further advised by the Garda authorities that the above information is based upon operational data from PULSE and the Fixed Charge Penalty System as was available on 5 February 2021 and is liable to change.

Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2016 to 31/12/2020 inclusive.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner has established the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau (GNRPB) to ensure a consistent approach to road safety and enforcement of road traffic legislation across the country. This is achieved through coordination of enforcement and development of policy based on research and analysis of statistics and by engaging in campaigns in partnership with other State Agencies.