Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 November 2016
73. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the review currently being undertaken in the traffic corps; when it commenced and will be completed; the terms of reference for the review; and the reason there are no permanent placements into the traffic corps until such time as the review is completed. [36513/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Commissioner that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of resources and the best possible policing service is provided to the general public. I am advised by the Commissioner that as of 30 September 2016, the latest date which figures are readily available, the strength of the Traffic Corps stood at 688 members.
I have also been advised by the Garda Commissioner that the Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Major Event/Emergency Management has carried out a review of the current Garda Traffic Corps strength and that this is currently being examined by Garda management in the context of An Garda Síochána’s Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 which sets key strategic objectives for Roads Policing and will inform and guide An Garda Síochána’s road policing plans over the next 5 years.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. In furtherance of this I recently announced that the Government has approved my proposal for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. No doubt the Traffic Corps, like all Divisions and policing activities will benefit from this accelerated recruitment which is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána.
In so far as road traffic enforcement is concerned generally, An Garda Síochána's Roads Policing Operations Plan 2016 incorporates a programme of high visibility road safety and enforcement operations, carried out in partnership with other state agencies, and is being implemented by each Regional Traffic Superintendent. The focus of the Plan is on the most vulnerable road user categories of motor cyclists, pedal cyclists, pedestrians and learner permit holders. Garda operations specifically target road use behaviour known to contribute significantly to collisions, including speeding, driving while intoxicated, and use of a mobile phone.
Road traffic legislation is also enforced as part of the day to day duties of members of An Garda Síochána. Both targeted and general methods of enforcement have a valuable role to play in An Garda Síochána's enforcement programme, which targets locations with a view to preventing the commission of offences, detecting errant motorists, changing their behaviour and ultimately reducing death and injuries on our roads.
I have requested the specific information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and I will forward this information directly to the Deputy when it is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 73 for answer on Wednesday 23 November 2016 the text of which was as follows:-
"To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the review currently being undertaken into the traffic corps; when it commenced; when it will be completed; the terms of reference for the review; and the reason there are no permanent placements into the traffic corps until such time as the review is completed."
At the time I responded that I would request information from the Garda Commissioner on the specific query raised by the Deputy and that I would write to the Deputy on receipt of same.
As I advised in my reply I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that a review, under Assistant Commissioner Roads Policing and Major Event/Emergency Management, of the current strength of Garda Traffic Corps has been completed and is being examined under the Garda Modernisation and Renewal Programme.
I am further informed that the terms of reference of the review included: to build on the significant progress that has already been made in respect of reducing the number of fatalities on Irish roads; to incorporate an examination of best practice within other European Countries with a view to strengthening and redeveloping the Traffic Corps; and to merge road safety and crime prevention and detection on the roads.
I am advised that appointments to the Traffic Corps Units nationwide will be conducted on a structured basis, throughout the Modernisation & Renewal Programme of An Garda Síochána (2016-2021) which provides that the Traffic Corps will be strengthened and redeveloped to merge road safety, crime prevention and detection on the roads. Such increases will be incremental and consequential to additional human resources becoming available. As reported in my reply it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
As roads policing is the duty of every Garda member, this duty is not reserved for Garda members of the Traffic Corps. Similarly, members of the Traffic Corps are required to engage in the core activity of An Garda Síochána concerning the prevention and detection of crime.
I hope this information is of assistance.
