Written answers

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Departmental Contracts

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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671. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details of the total amount paid by the State to a company (details supplied) each year since the start of its most recent contract for its services in monitoring and enforcing speed limits on State roads. [39581/23]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, which includes the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

As the Deputy will be aware, GoSafe is a private company contracted to An Garda Síochána for the provision of services. The safety camera project was established to reduce speed related collisions and therefore save lives. The system is operated by the service provider GoSafe under the direction of An Garda Síochána.

GoSafe has responsibility for ensuring monitoring and survey sessions are conducted in accordance with the schedules, and the provision of survey and monitoring data to An Garda Síochána. GoSafe provide the necessary vehicles, monitoring and survey equipment and operators. GoSafe work closely with An Garda Síochána to improve safety for all road users on Ireland’s road network.

Earlier this month I announced that an additional €1.2 million is to be allocated towards GoSafe, which provides and operates safety cameras in Ireland. This funding will increase monitoring hours by the GoSafe cameras by 20 per cent, or an extra 1,500 hours per month until the end of this year. It will bring the number of GoSafe hours up to 9,000 per month.

The following table provided to me by Garda authorities, updated as of 8 September 2023, outlines the amount of funding paid to GoSafe since the beginning of their current contract with An Garda Síochána.

Financial Year Total
2017 (Current contract commenced 1/5/17) 8,655,186
2018 14,707,009
2019 14,760,600
2020 14,589,625
2021 14,624,559
2022 14,753,945
2023* 8,920,550
Grand Total 91,011,474

* Figures provided as of 8 September 2023.

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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672. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are minimum quotas or targets that operators of a company (details supplied) must meet in terms of recording speeding vehicles; if so, what these quotas are; and the way in which are they determined. [39583/23]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, which includes the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

As the Deputy will be aware, GoSafe is a private company contracted to An Garda Síochána for the provision of services. The safety camera project was established to reduce speed related collisions and therefore save lives. The system is operated by the service provider GoSafe under the direction of An Garda Síochána.

GoSafe has responsibility for ensuring monitoring and survey sessions are conducted in accordance with the schedules, and the provision of survey and monitoring data to An Garda Síochána. GoSafe provide the necessary vehicles, monitoring and survey equipment and operators. GoSafe work closely with An Garda Síochána to improve safety for all road users on Ireland’s road network.

I am informed by Garda authorities that there are no quotas in respect of the number of detections required in terms of recording speeding vehicles.

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