asked the Minister for Communications the number of transport officers he has appointed; the total number of those who had not been in employment in his Department or any Government Department previous to this appointment; the type and duration of training which they are undergoing and the priority duties which they will be performing; and whether or not it would be possible to have a 24-hour day schedule.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Transport Officers.
18.
Nine transport officers were appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Transport Act, 1986. All of those appointed were serving officers in my Department and three had previous experience as general inspectors (tachograph duties).
Over a period of eight weeks, the transport officers received intensive training covering the legislative and regulatory provisions to be enforced. The training programme, which included practical exercises, was designed to equip the officers with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to facilitate effective enforcement of the various regulations governing national and international road haulage and bus passenger operations.
Initially, the officers will concentrate, as a priority, on enforcing the legislation relating to drivers' hours, the tachograph and merchandise and bus passenger licensing requirements.
While it will not be possible for the moment within the resources available to provide a 24-hour day operation, it is intended that the transport officers will work outside of normal office hours to ensure the most effective enforcement within those resources. The Garda, however, provide a 24-hour operation.
Would the Minister not agree that a team of nine transport officers is totally inadequate for the various duties that arise from the passage of the legislation through the House, during which passage we were assured that the one thing the Government would see to was that those laws would be enforced?
During the passage of the Bill the number to be engaged was made quite clear. Much work remains to be done but with the support of the Garda and the tactical operations of the team, blanket operations can be done in specific small areas. A good job can be done to enforce the legislation. I agree with the Deputy that once we put legislation on the Statute Book and thereby regularised a very difficult situation there is an obligation to enforce it.
How can the Minister justify the priority areas mentioned by him, seeing that those obligations and laws do not arise out of the recently passed legislation in connection with which the promises were made for the appointment of transport officers?
This is just the initial period. They will be moving on to cover the entire field. It is a substantial increase——
It is a joke.
It is an increase on what was there. It is a move in the right direction.
Every Member of the House has been getting communications from the Irish Road Hauliers Association about this. Does the Minister not think, in view of the increasing concern about weighbridges, that attention to the weighbridges in co-operation with the Garda should be a priority for the transport inspectors?
Everything in the law that requires enforcement should be enforced and in due course should become an obligation on the transport officers. The Garda and the transport officers operate at checkpoints. The transport officers are concentrating on the drivers and the licensing requirements. It is envisaged that the Garda will take on enforcement of other legislation, involving tax, insurance, drivers' licences and so on. The report from the interdepartmental committee on the enforcement of road haulage regulations stated that checking of insurance certificates and certificates of roadworthiness will remain a Garda responsibility for the time being and that checking for tax and drivers' licences should remain the responsibility of the Garda for the present. The transport officers are being introduced. They have been well trained for this operation and I believe they will prove to be highly successful.
Is the Minister aware that the loading of lorries is a very serious problem for legitimate hauliers? Would he agree that this House is plastered with paper from the Irish Road Hauliers Association because of their worry that the transport officers are not being used to see that the law will be obeyed in this regard?
The transport officers have been working to ensure the effective enforcement of the law. All of the matters are being considered.
Will the Minister assure the House that the final objective as far as the transport officers are concerned is to have a 24-hour round the clock service to ensure that our laws are not made ridiculous as they are now by operators in the State and from outside it.
Yes. When the Bill was going through the House — I had the privilege of steering it through — I was delighted to see the law being put in proper order so that it would be possible to enforce it. I agree with the Deputy that we must have blanket coverage of the total area so that once we have a law on the Statute Book it will not be abused or laughed at.
It is not being done — that is why the hauliers are so concerned.
A very good start has been made. I will take the points made by the Deputy into consideration.