Road Traffic Offences

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Questions (724)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

724. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of traffic offences, collisions and vehicles seized or detained involving scramblers and quad bikes in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52243/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question number 724 of 2 November 2021 where you asked for the number of traffic offences, collisions and vehicles seized or detained involving scramblers and quadbikes in 2020 and to date in 2021.

You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the requested information was available.

As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the recording of traffic offences, collisions and seizures of vehicles. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters.

The Garda authorities have provided me with the information summarised in the below table relating to incidents with quadbikes and scramblers for the period 1 January 2020 to 27 October 2021.

	1 January 2020 – 27 October 2021
No. of road traffic collisions involving a quadbike	18
No. of road traffic collisions involving a scrambler	24
No. of incidents where a quadbike was seized or detained	118
No. of incidents where a scrambler was seized or detained	230
No. of traffic offences involving a quadbike	124
No. of traffic offences involving a scrambler	337

I am advised that the above figures are based upon operational data from the Garda PULSE system as was available on 28 October 2021 and is liable to change.

I am informed that An Garda Síochána’s use of the term ‘road traffic collision’ refers to fatal, serious and non-serious road traffic collisions. I am also informed that vehicles seized or detained include, but are not exclusively, those seized or detained under s41 of the Road Traffic Act.