Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1458.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of speeding fines or penalty points issued as a result of evidence obtained by speed camera vans nationwide in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, by county, in tabular form. [31233/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

The Deputy may be aware that safety camera vans are currently operated by the service provider GoSafe under the direction of An Garda Síochána. The designation of specific sections of road as speed enforcement zones is based on an analysis of collision data. Following the selection of a speed enforcement zone, the outsourced safety camera operator, GoSafe, liaises with local members of An Garda Síochána in order to identify suitable sites to operate from.

It may interest the Deputy to note that, in September 2023, I allocated a 20% increase in funding for GoSafe speed cameras, resulting in a total of 9,000 hours of speed monitoring per month across the country. This has continued into 2024.

Road safety cameras operate in areas where there is a history of speed-related collisions, known as speed enforcement zones. Ongoing surveys are conducted to ascertain whether existing zones continue to represent locations where speeding is happening.

The information in the attachment below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out by Garda Division, the number of instances where a party was issued with a Fixed Charge Notice for the offences of speeding and where the evidence was obtained by speed camera.

I am advised that the figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 January 2014 to 15 July 2024, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system, as was available on 16 July 2024, and is liable to change.