Vol. 529 No. 1
1051 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the powers available to the Gardaí to deal with abandoned motor vehicles, especially in regard to the dangers of such vehicles being driven away, vandalised or burnt out; if any guidelines have been issued to the Gardaí in regard to possible co-ordination of efforts with local authorities in order to deal with this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1833/01]
As the Deputy may be aware, all road traffic legislation comes under the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. I am informed by the Garda authorities that regulations made by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government under section 5 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 and section 63 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968, known as the Road Traffic (Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations, 1983 to 1998 provide for the removal of abandoned vehicles .
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that, with regard to local authorities, Article 5 deals with the removal of abandoned vehicles by or on the authority of a local authority and that, under Article 5(2), the road authority shall comply with the request of an Officer of the Garda Síochána for the removal of an abandoned vehicle.
I wish to assure the Deputy that all members of the Garda Síochána have been made aware of the regulations and the powers conferred by them and I understand that where vehicles are found abandoned the services of local authorities are availed of by the gardaí.
I understand that the Department of the Environment and Local Government is engaged with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry and other concerned parties with a view to the development of a producer responsibility initiative in relation to the disposal of vehicles at the end of their useful lives.
