Vol. 483 No. 6
418 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will give details of the extra resources, if any, he is making available to the Garda for the purchase of camera equipment to monitor and detect breaches of traffic regulations. [21549/97]
I wish to inform the Deputy that the Garda are in possession of the most up-to-date equipment for the detection of breaches of the Road Traffic Acts. This equipment includes in car video cameras, the GATSO Mobile Unit which is a sophisticated mobile camera, radar, video, and computer system, as well as laser and radar speed detection equipment. The question of acquiring additional GATSO mobile units and automatic speed detection cameras is being examined at present.
419 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will give details of extra resources, if any, he is making available to the Garda to eliminate traffic gridlock in the period prior to Christmas 1997. [21550/97]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Freeflow Three came into operation within the Dublin Metropolitan Area on Monday, 1 December 1997 and will remain in place until 5 January 1998. The Garda plan was drawn up following consultation with the various agencies including the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Dublin Corporation, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann, and the Dublin Transportation Office.
The main objective is to ensure that the transport system works with as much efficiency as possible during the Christmas period. To achieve this objective, an additional 162 gardaí from the Garda college are being allocated to the Dublin Metropolitan Area over the Christmas period to augment existing Garda resources for the duration of Operation Freeflow Three. As a result, there will be approximately 200 Garda personnel on duty at any given time.
The Garda have identified 21 arterial routes into the city and key black trouble spots which will receive sustained attention and enforcement. A feature of the Garda action plan is high visibility intensive patrolling by mobile Garda resources, particularly motor cycles and foot patrols. I have been assured by the Garda authorities that there will be rigid enforcement of the bus lane and clearway regulations in order to maintain rapid public transport movement. Four Garda tow wagons are being deployed exclusively to deal with traffic congestion and obstructions, particularly in the areas between the Royal and Grand Canals. A blitz method of enforcement incorporating both tow away and tow aside actions will operate.
There is a system in place which allows for instant communication between the Garda Síochána, Dublin Corporation traffic control centre and the public utilities which will assist the co-ordination of effort. I am confident that these measures, with the co-operation of the public, will go a long way towards alleviating the traffic problems in the Dublin area during the Christmas period.
