Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
201. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if she will outline her Department's policy on extending the powers of local authority traffic wardens to include enforcement of other traffic offences in urban areas, such as driving in bus lanes and the failure to obey traffic lights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54496/23]
View answerAction 121 of Phase 1 of the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 is to 'Review current arrangements in relation to traffic wardens and other authorised officers' powers of enforcement, complementary to An Garda Síochána, to identify any further developments that may be appropriate, subject to legal advice.'
This particular action arose out the public consultation phase during the development of the Strategy, and is focused on the possibility of giving additional functions to traffic wardens, and possibly other officers, to address some road traffic offences and free up Garda resources to focus on more serious traffic offences.
This Action will be considered in the wider context of consolidation of road traffic legislation. In the meantime, my Department has conducted an initial scoping exercise in this area. Several factors will need to be considered. It is important to bear in mind that traffic wardens have historically been empowered to enforce only offences involving stopped vehicles, not moving traffic. If traffic wardens were to enforce offences involving moving traffic, it would have to be clear whether they would be empowered to stop traffic, to use technology such as cameras, and whether there would be a need for additional resources and training provided. These are some of the matters to be considered in due course.
