Richard Bruton
Question:233 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether a special traffic enforcement corps should be introduced. [11922/00]
Written Answers. - Traffic Enforcement Corps.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is a traffic corps in every Garda division with special responsibility for traffic law enforcement. The most recent figures show that there are 57 Sergeants and 374 Garda members of the Traffic Corps. In addition, all uniformed gardaí throughout the State are involved in traffic law enforcement as required. Also, there are 140 traffic wardens employed by the Garda Commissioner in the Dublin Metropolitan area who are responsible for the enforcement of the parking regulations. Outside the Dublin area traffic wardens are employed by local authorities under the Local Government (Traffic Wardens) Act, 1975.
The establishment of a separate traffic corps independent of the Garda Siochana has been proposed from time to time. Although primary responsibility of the traffic corps is accident prevention and traffic control, members of the corps deal with all matters which require Garda attention.
In addition to the traffic corps, in 1997, following a review of the Garda traffic operations, the Garda National Traffic Bureau, headed by a Chief Superintendent was established at Garda Headquarters to give greater focus and direction to Garda traffic law enforcement campaigns.
I am of the view that the establishment of a dedicated traffic corps, independent of the Garda would not be as beneficial to the community as the existing arrangement which allows traffic corps members to deal with crime other than traffic related crime. If members of a separate traffic unit were to be given powers limited to road traffic matters, they would not be able to intervene in other police matters which come to their attention in the course of their duties.
Finally, I should state that the deployment of gardaí to traffic functions is an operational decision which is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.