Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2017
102. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of roadside checks of heavy goods vehicles in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of heavy goods vehicle drivers arrested for road traffic offences, indicating the road traffic offences, in the same period; the number of prosecutions that were brought and convictions made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11304/17]
View answer103. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and results of discrete heavy goods vehicles stopping and checking operations An Garda Síochána has carried out to detect the permit status of heavy goods vehicles requiring a permit in 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of tachograph checks carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11306/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.
I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the information requested by the Deputy and I will contact the Deputy directly upon receipt of the relevant information.
Insofar as conviction statistics are concerned, the Courts Service is not in a position to match specific prosecutions initiated to court results.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to Parliamentary Questions No. 102 and 103 of 7 March 2017, which are detailed below for ease of reference.
PQ No. 102 – ‘the number of road side checks of heavy goods vehicles in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of heavy goods vehicle drivers arrested for road traffic offences, indicating the road traffic offences, in the same period; the number of prosecutions that were brought and convictions made’.
PQ No. 103 – ‘the number and results of discrete heavy goods vehicle stopping and checking operations An Garda Síochána has carried out to detect the permit status of heavy goods vehicles requiring a permit in 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of tachograph checks carried out’.
As you will recall, the Courts Service is not in a position to match specific prosecutions initiated to courts results, and the information requested from An Garda Síochána could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to contact you again when it was to hand. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that only Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT) Checkpoints and Heavy Good Vehicle (HGV) Checkpoints conducted with external agencies (including those conducted under the auspices of the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL)) are recorded on the PULSE system. As such, I am advised, that the specific information sought by you is not readily available, as it would necessitate the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to collate same.
I am, however, advised by the Garda authorities that the total number of Heavy Good Vehicle (HGV) checkpoints conducted by An Garda Síochána with external agencies (including those conducted under the auspices of TISPOL) since 2014 is 4,860* and of these 1,703* have taken place since 2016.
I am also advised that the total number of tachograph offences detected by An Garda Síochána since 2014 is 3,085*. (*figures, valid at to 2 March 2017, are operational, provisional and subject to change.)
It is not possible to identify if these offences were detected at specific dedicated HGV checkpoints or on other occasions of interventions/detections etc., as records held do not differentiate the circumstances during which offences were detected.
Both strategic, targeted operations and general methods of enforcement have a valuable role to play in An Garda Síochána's road traffic 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. Both formal checkpoints, such as MAT and Multi Agency HGV checkpoints, and informal checkpoints, form par of these operations and are conducted by An Garda Síochána, either singularly or with other agencies. These agencies include the Road Safety Authority, Taxi Regulator, Revenue Commissioners (Customs & Excise) and the Department of Social Protection.
I hope this information is of assistance.
