Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
467. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank, attached to the roads policing unit within Cavan-Monaghan division as of 30 April 2024; and if she will provide same figures as of 30 April 2021, in tabular form. [22950/24]
View answerWe 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. Road safety is a shared responsibility and one which this Government takes very seriously.
Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of all 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. The Garda Commissioner has recently confirmed that all uniform Gardaí will undertake 30 minutes of high visibility roads policing in each tour of duty.
On average 25% of roads policing enforcement is carried out by regular members, with the exception of drug/drink driving checks, 75% of which are carried out by regular members.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including managing the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
As the Deputy may be aware, Louth Division has merged with the Cavan-Monaghan Division under the new Operating Model. As of the end of March 2024, there were 36 Garda members attached to Roads Policing in Cavan-Monaghan-Louth Division.
At the end of 2021 there were 18 Garda members attached to Roads Policing in Cavan-Monaghan Division and 25 in Louth Division.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep people safe. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024 representing a 25% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. The Garda Commissioner informed the Joint Committee on Transport recently that he plans to add 75 Gardaí to Roads Policing this year and a further 75 in 2025.
An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority continue to highlight to the public the dangerous behaviours which give rise to so many collisions and fatalities through road safety appeals and campaigns. Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car, or is a passenger in a car has a role to play in ensuring that drivers behave in a safe manner.
There are still too many people willing to drive without due care, be that by speeding, driving recklessly, being distracted, perhaps by using a mobile phone, or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Encouraging drivers to change poor behaviours will have a much greater impact on road safety than any number of additional Gardaí.
Whether its fixed cameras, average speed cameras or GoSafe vans, we need to use technology to work to reverse some of these trends. My Department and An Garda Siochána will play their part in the joint-agency working group, led by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, to develop a national Safety Camera Strategy.
