Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1462.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of road traffic offences recorded by Gardaí in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, by type of offence, in tabular form. [31237/24]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1463.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of road traffic offences recorded by Gardaí in each of the past ten years, in each county, in tabular form. [31238/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1462 and 1463 together.

Road safety is a shared responsibility that this Government takes very seriously. We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads and concerned by the recent worrying increase in road fatalities after many years of progress in making our roads safer.

Successful road safety strategies require us to consider a number of matters that together can save lives: technology, road design, driver behaviour and education, severity of penalties, speed limits and funding. And of course, where all else fails, enforcement.

Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all.

While a number of Gardaí are assigned to Roads Policing Units, all frontline Gardaí contribute to policing our roads and keeping them safe. On average 25% of roads policing enforcement is carried out by regular members, with the exception of drug/drink driving checks, 75% of which are carried out by regular members.

Since April of this year, uniformed members of An Garda Síochána are required to carry out 30 minutes of High Visibility Roads Policing per shift. Th aim of this activity is to increase Garda visibility which has the effect of moderating driver and road user behaviour. Since the introduction of this operation on 12 April until 5 June, compared to the period 16 Feb to 10 April there has been a 27% increase in breath tests (Alcohol), a 69% increase in Oral Fluid Tests (Drugs) carried out. There has also been a 29% increase in Fixed Charge Notices for driving while using a mobile phone and a 5% increase in Fixed Charge Notice for Speed Detections.

Significant advances have been made over recent years in providing Garda members, and in particular Roads Policing Units, with the technology to effectively carry out their work. Every Garda member can now check a vehicle insurance status while on the roadside by checking its registration on the Garda Mobility App. All frontline Garda members can now issue Fixed Charge Notices directly through their personal mobility device on the side of the road, rather than completing paper tickets.

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.

As the Deputy will also be aware, An Garda Síochána records information by Garda Division and not by county.

The information in the attachments, which were provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out, the number of road traffic offences recorded by Gardaí in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, by type of offence; and the number of road traffic offences recorded by Gardaí in each of the past ten years by Division.

Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 January 2014 up to 15 July 2024, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Fixed Charge Processing System and PULSE systems as was available on 16 July 2024 and is liable to change. Crime Counting rules were applied where applicable.

">Road Traffic Offenses

">Fixed Charge Notice by Division