Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 March 2012
102 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review the arrangements in place for citizens who have been bereaved through a fatal road collision to access critical investigative documents that relate to their loved ones’ tragic road deaths, in view of the recent significant increase in the cost of supplying these documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13479/12]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that persons involved in road traffic collisions, their legal advisers or insurers or other interested parties may, on written request, be supplied with an abstract of the Garda report in respect of the collision, copies of statements of witnesses and sketches or maps of the scene. Fees are charged for these reports, to re-coup costs incurred in the preparation of same. The current fees were introduced in October 2011, to replace fees which had been in place since 2005. Fees charged for services provided by An Garda Síochána are kept under ongoing review.
Where criminal proceedings are being considered, abstracts are not supplied until the criminal proceedings are concluded and in the case of fatal traffic collisions until the inquest concerning the death has been completed by the Coroner.
