Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1210. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of cameras used in the Dublin City Council area that are capable of identifying drivers breaking red lights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38820/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I am advised that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all. A quarter of road safety enforcement is undertaken by regular Garda members.
The Minister for Transport is responsible for the Road Traffic Acts, and I understand that failure to obey a red light is a contravention of Regulation 30 of the Road Traffic Regulations of 1997, and these Regulations are made under section 35 of the 1994 Road Traffic Act.
The offence of not obeying a red light is therefore an offence under section 35, and section 81 of the Road Traffic Act provides for the use of camera apparatus to capture the constituent of an offence in the case of a number of offences under the Road Traffic Acts, which would include an offence under section 35.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that, at present, there are no systems operating in the Dublin City Council area that are capable of identifying and creating evidential records for the purpose of taking a prosecution.
However, the further use of camera enforcement is currently being explored under the auspices of the Government Road Safety Strategy.
Action 67 in the Road Safety Strategy Phase 1 Action Plan 2021–2024 sets out the need to "further develop camera-based enforcement by the Gardaí, including at junctions and for management of bus/cycle lanes, building on existing and recent legislation through establishing suitable cross-agency administrative arrangements; and, where any legislative issues are identified, to consider and develop agreed proposals to remedy them".
I am advised that the Department of Transport has arranged for the National Transport Authority (NTA) to undertake the first phase of this action, namely, to establish and chair a working group to make recommendations on how it should be progressed. It is intended that this group will report back on progress made to the Road Safety Transformation Partnership Board, comprising the relevant agency CEOs and senior officials from Departments involved in delivering the Road Safety Strategy, chaired by Minister of State Chambers.
The subsequent steps for implementation, including addressing any legislative issues that may be identified, will be determined by the Department of Transport when this phase is completed.
