Vol. 454 No. 2
5 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to train gardaí to drive heavy goods vehicles in order that the rate of detection of defective vehicles could be improved: and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10431/95]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a two week driving course on heavy goods vehicles, rigid vehicles, is provided in the Garda College, Templemore. The course is provided on request and is aimed at members attached to the traffic corps principally in Dublin, who are engaged on tow-away duties.
A week long course on the detection of defective heavy goods vehicles is provided in the Garda College for all members attached to the traffic corps and public service vehicle units. This course does not involve instruction in the driving of such vehicles and is considered by the Garda to be adequate to enable them to enforce road traffic legislation in relation to heavy goods vehicles.
A two week course is totally inadequate. If these vehicles are stopped for any reason gardaí have no expertise to detect whether they are defective. As can be seen from statistics, quite a number have been involved in accidents and usually the local PSV inspector is the only person competent to check the vehicles. It would be more prudent to have trained gardaí who can spot vehicles before an accident occurs.
The Garda assure me that it is not necessary to be able to drive a heavy goods vehicle to detect one that is defective. The course gardaí undergo in Templemore concentrates on the skills required to identify defects in vehicles. The Garda inform me it considers it adequate to enable gardaí to enforce the law. In 1993-94, 220 members took that course in Templemore. The figures available from the annual report of the Garda Síochána for 1993 show that the number of offences of driving a dangerously defective vehicle in which proceedings were taken totalled 253 resulting in 107 convictions. Whatever training they are getting is enabling gardaí to catch and convict people who are driving defective vehicles.
I disagree with what the Minister has said because my information is that gardaí are trained in regard to heavy goods vehicles only to detect defective lights, indicators and so on. Would it not be more prudent to train more gardaí? Department of Transport, Energy and Communications officials, in co-operation with the Garda, are empowered to stop vehicles and check them for overloading, tachographs etc. If a certain number of gardaí had this expertise it would dramatically reduce the number of accidents.
The strength of the traffic corps in Dublin is 104 — a chief superintendent, a superintendent, three inspectors, eight sergeants and 91 gardaí. Outside of Dublin the strength is 209: one inspector, 32 sergeants and 176 gardaí. The Garda informed me they are responsible for their deployment.
Approximately 330 members of the force are engaged primarily in traffic related duties. The Deputy made the point that some gardaí are unhappy with the training they are getting. I will take that point on board and pass it on to the Commissioner to ensure that the training helps them to detect defects. I would not care to think it only helped them to detect broken lights. We could all do that without going to Templemore to undergo training. I will pass on the concerns which were obviously passed to the Deputy by some gardaí who know something about the course.
Perhaps we could take a leaf from our colleagues in England who are governed by the British Transport Commission Act, 1949. We are not in a position to have our own transport police and I take the Minister's point about the traffic corps but it does not deal specifically with the matters I am trying to draw to the Minister's attention relative to heavy goods vehicles. Perhaps the Minister will give consideration to setting up a unit within the Garda?
I can only repeat what I have said. In 1993-94 a corps of 220 members took this course in Templemore. Some 220 members who have done this course to enable them detect defects in heavy goods vehicles are scattered throughout the country. I will pass on the Deputy's concerns to the Garda Commissioner and ascertain if there is a need to strengthen the course being given at Templemore.
We come to other questions.
