Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:15. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí working in road policing in Cork city and county at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17791/24]
View answerTuesday, 23 April 2024
Questions (15)
Written answers
Road safety is a shared responsibility, and while led by the Department of Transport, it is one which is taken very seriously across Government. We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities after many years of progress in making our roads safer.
I continue to engage with colleagues across Government, in particular Minister Chambers, to ensure that every effort is made to increase safety on our roads. As the Deputy may be aware, I met with the Taoiseach, Minister Ryan, Minister Chambers and the Road Safety Authority last week.
Road traffic laws are enforced on an ongoing basis by both Roads Policing personnel and as part of the day-to-day duties of uniformed Gardaí nationwide. This includes a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies. The Commissioner has also recently directed that all uniform Garda members are to be deployed on high visibility roads policing operations, of 30 minutes duration, in each tour of duty.
Approximately 25% of all roads enforcement is undertaken by regular units. 75% of drug/drink driving checks are carried out by regular units.
Every frontline Garda member now has a mobility device, which is essentially a mobile phone that allows them to access a number of specialised Garda apps at the roadside. These include the ability to issue a Fixed Charge Notice, search for the insurance details provided by the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland, if a vehicle is taxed or not and if a driver is disqualified. These tasks can now be done within moments, without the need to return to the station.
Additionally, an Automatic Number Plate Recognition, or ANPR, app is already being used by the Gardaí to identify cars nationwide, and will be rolled out further.
I am advised that as of 24 March 2024, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 76 Roads Policing Gardaí assigned across the three Cork Divisions. This represents an increase of 4 since the end of December 2023, when there were 72 Roads Policing Gardaí assigned.
At the end of March 2024 there were 27 Gardaí assigned to Roads Policing duty in Cork City Division, 19 Gardaí assigned to Roads Policing duty in Cork North Division and 30 Gardaí assigned to Roads Policing duty in Cork West Division.
The Deputy can appreciate that while the distribution of Garda resources is an operational matter for the Commissioner, I am assured the distribution is kept under continual review.