Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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618. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to issue specific guidelines for the submission of video content via the Garda traffic watch online reporting system, in order to avoid inconsistencies in how Gardaí investigate incidences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32246/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation and deployment of resources available to him under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, and for the management and administration of all operational policing matters such as the Garda traffic watch online reporting system. As Minister, I do not direct such operational policing decisions and am unable to issue guidelines for the use of Garda systems.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that Traffic Watch is a partnership approach to reducing the number of road collisions and fatalities. It brings road users, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and other stakeholders together in a united and sustained effort to improve safety on our roads.

As part of An Garda Síochána’s ongoing commitment to road safety, a new online Traffic Watch reporting form was launched on the Garda website in August 2024.

Members of the public can report non-emergency traffic-related incidents using the online reporting form. In an emergency situation, members of the public should always call 999/112.

These online reports are logged by Garda Staff at the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) who then forward the report to the Superintendent in the relevant Community Engagement Area to progress by appointing a member of An Garda Síochána to investigate a Traffic Watch complaint.

Video or photographic evidence cannot be uploaded to this page and members of the public are requested to hand any video evidence to a member of An Garda Síochána.

The submission of video or photographic evidence will require the development of a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) to store, manage and process any footage received.

This system is also required to progress the implementation of body worn camera technology in An Garda Síochána.

The project to introduce body worn cameras and DEMS to An Garda Síochána is underway.

This system, in addition to supporting body worn cameras, will support the use of an online portal to facilitate the uploading and submission of video footage to An Garda Síochána by the public.

Garda authorities envisage that the portal will be developed across the remainder of 2025, and 2026.