asked the Minister for Justice if he has under consideration the setting up of a separate Garda traffic unit whose function would be to supervise the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations, in view of the concentration of the Garda on the more serious forms of crime and of the serious problem of growing traffic disorder.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Traffic Control Duties.
31.
As I indicated in reply to a similar question by the Deputy on 8 May 1979 there is already within the Garda Siochána a special Traffic Corps with a unit in every Garda Division, which has special responsibility in relation to the enforcement of the law relating to road traffic. I do not consider that there would be any advantage to be gained by setting up a completely separate unit in the force to deal solely with the enforcement of the law relating to road traffic.
As regards the relief of traffic congestion and the enforcement of the parking regulations, the position is that under the Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Act, 1975, it is open to any local authority to establish a separate traffic warden service which would release gardaí for other duties. While 13 local authorities in the larger centres have established such a service, the corporations in Dublin and Cork declined to do so.
Last year, the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána resumed control of the enforcement of the parking regulation in Dublin, which Dublin Corporation had been operating on an agency basis. At present, the enforcement of the parking regulations in Dublin is being carried out by a combination of gardaí and traffic wardens. There are both full-time and part-time traffic wardens and the number of wardens is being increased to bring it up to the equivalent of 100 full-time personnel. At present there are 47 full-time and 48 part-time traffic wardens on duty in Dublin. It is expected that a further 25 full-time wardens will be operational by 15 December. This increase in the manpower allocated to the enforcement of the parking regulations should result in a substantial improvement in the flow of traffic through the city and the effectiveness of the measures being taken in the matter will be kept under review