Vol. 489 No. 6
608 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has to establish, within the Garda, a specific traffic police to deal with haulage transport issues; if he will establish a nationwide system of checkpoints in conjunction with other Departments in relation to illegal haulage in view of the serious damage it is inflicting on the legitimate haulage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8917/98]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the enforcement of the road traffic legislation and the provisions of the Road Transport Acts is given a high priority.
A Garda traffic corps operates in each Garda division outside the Dublin metropolitan area, while a special traffic unit based at Dublin Castle operates in the Dublin metropolitan area. There is also a special unit at Dublin Castle which has a specific responsibility for the enforcement of the road transport legislation. In addition, all uniformed gardaí are involved in the enforcement of this legislation. As part of their enforcement policy, checkpoints are carried out by the gardaí at various times and locations throughout the country. In 1996 there were 2809 prosecutions taken under the Road Transportation Acts.
The gardaí, in addition to their own enforcement role, have participated in joint campaigns with the Departments of Public Enterprise, Environment and Local Government, Social, Community and Family Affairs, as well as Customs and Excise and the Revenue Commissioners, in multi-agency efforts to ensure greater compliance with the law in relation to road haulage.
I should also emphasise that the Department of Public Enterprise has a transport inspectorate who are engaged full time on the detection and prosecution of breaches of the Road Transport Acts. That Department is also responsible for the enforcement of European Union regulations concerning teachographs in heavy goods vehicles. I am aware that there has been an increased drive by that Department over the past three years to improve compliance with the regulations by both the drivers of vehicles and by those who employ them. The focus of the new drive has been to shift the main emphasis of enforcement from premises visits to road side checks in conjunction with the Garda Síochána. In an effort to heighten awareness among drivers and employers, the transport inspectorate conduct week long intensive road side check campaigns at regular intervals. I also understand that plans are in train to extend these normal roadside checks by undertaking some multi agency checkpoints.
