Vol. 450 No. 6
5 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice if she will give consideration to the establishment of a special sub-division of traffic police, thereby releasing gardaí to deal with crime in our society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5295/95]
The system the Deputy is suggesting already exists in the Garda. There is within the Garda Síochána a special traffic corps with a unit in every Garda division, which has special responsibility in relation to the enforcement of the laws relating to road traffic.
The numbers of gardaí employed in the traffic corps are as follows:
|
Rank |
DMA |
Country |
|
Chief Superintendent |
1 |
— |
|
Superintendent |
1 |
— |
|
Inspector |
3 |
1 |
|
Sergeant |
8 |
32 |
|
Gardaí |
91 |
176 |
|
Total |
104 |
209 |
Successive Ministers for Justice have ensured that they have had the required manpower and resources to enable them to enforce the road traffic laws effectively. The DMA traffic corps has 50 vehicles, including 28 motor cycles, assigned to it. Outside the DMA the traffic corps has 55 vehicles of which five are motor cycles. I intend to ensure that the corps continue to be adequately resourced to carry out its all-important traffic functions properly.
I should emphasise that gardaí in the traffic corps do not deal solely with traffic related matters. Although their primary responsibility is accident prevention and traffic control, members of the traffic corps must deal with all matters requiring Garda attention.
If the Deputy has in mind the suggestion made in 1980 of an "enforcement corps" which would be distinct from the main body of gardaí, I am sure that the existing arrangement which allows the traffic corps to deal with crime other than traffic related crime is more beneficial to the community.
Would the Minister accept that a visit to any sitting of a District Court in the city will show ranks of gardaí spending valuable working hours waiting to give evidence about minor traffic offences? In that context would the Minister consider my suggestion which would have the benefit of releasing gardaí into the community to carry out valuable policing work at a time when there is serious crime on the streets of our cities?
Gardaí are being held up unnecessarily in the courts system. However, there are proposals in my Department to change the law with regard to the use of witnesses, statements, etc., in the courts. I share the Deputy's concern that too much Garda time is spent waiting around in the courts but the problem is wider than that. It has to do with the backlog of cases that has built up in the courts over a number of years, and that is being tackled. The concept the Deputy is asking for already exists, but it is more effective to have a traffic corps that can also work on other crimes rather than a dedicated traffic corps that cannot also deal with ordinary crime.
Would the Minister at least accept that lay personnel might be more widely used to administer the present traffic corps, thereby releasing gardaí into the community to carry out police work?
There are already 700 civilian clerical staff employed in the Garda Síochána, and I have resources in my budget this year to increase that by another 200 over the next two years. That will release personnel to go on the beat and do Garda work that is more in keeping with the expectations of the public. The work being done by gardaí in offices is essential but it can be done by civilians and that is why I am continuing the programme of civilianisation.
Given the hundreds of miles of clearways, bus lanes, single and double yellow lines, and the thousands of parking meters, would the Minister not agree that the traffic corps is the cinderella of the Department of Justice? I do not know when the Minister last travelled on a bus in the morning or evening when people are not supposed to enter bus ways or clearways, or when she last saw a garda on duty at those times. The problem is that gardaí are moved between the traffic division and fighting crime which the Department views as a more serious priority. Would the Minister not agree that it would be a step in the right direction if the traffic corps were to be given a distinctive role and wore a distinctly different uniform from the ordinary garda on the beat?
At checkpoints gardaí wear a yellow bib. I will consider the Deputy's suggestion.
Does the Minister accept that persons charged with certain minor road traffic offences should not end up in court and that it is a waste of Garda time that evidence has to be given in court? She should change the legislation to provide for on the spot fines in respect of such offences.
With respect that is a separate question and I would be happy to answer it if the Deputy should wish to table it.
Will the Minister consider granting greater powers to traffic wardens who, for example, cannot prosecute a motorist if they enter a busway or for a wide range of other offences. If they were granted more powers it could mark the beginning of a good partnership with the Garda Síochána.
The traffic warden system operates effectively, too effectively for many motorists who wish that traffic wardens did not exist, particularly when they receive a ticket. As traffic wardens do not form part of the Garda Síochána it would be necessary to introduce legislation to extend their powers. I will consider this.
They operate under the aegis of the Department of Justice.
I am aware of that.
Is the Minister aware of the number of man hours spent by gardaí giving evidence in civil litigation cases involving personal injuries? Because of long delays in the courts system many gardaí spend many hours participating in such cases. Would it not be appropriate, given the cost of overtime to the State, to ask the insurance companies to meet the cost involved?
The Deputy has raised much new matter. This question relates to traffic offences.
It is a separate question which I should be happy to answer it if the Deputy wishes to table it.
