asked the Minister for Finance if he has yet received the Garda recommendations regarding speed limits in the Phoenix Park.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Phoenix Park Speed Limits .
15.
: No recommendation regarding speed limits in the Phoenix Park have been received from the Garda but, at my request, the Garda have furnished a report on traffic accidents which occurred during the past five years. I discussed the matter yesterday afternoon with the Garda and the local authorities involved and I now intend to form a working body to include representatives of these bodies, my own Office and the Department of the Environment to investigate in detail the various helpful sugestions made at the discussion yesterday.
: Last December in reply to a question and in reply to previous correspondence the Minister said he was awaiting Garda recommendations about traffic in the Phoenix Park and as soon as they were to hand he would let me have them. Is it not surprising that six months later the Minister still has not got them.
: It is not always easy to get bodies such as those I mentioned together at a convenient time. We have been examining the whole position and officers of my Department have been preparing and collecting statistics from the local authorities and from the Garda. We had a very successful meeting yesterday. A number of suggestions were put forward. I have now agreed to set up a working body consisting of representatives of the authorities concerned. I have no doubt some solution will be reached to avoid excessive speeding through the park.
: I have not got a copy of the letter but I am sure the Minister has. As long as six months ago he said he was awaiting the Garda recommendations and he still has not got them. Does he not think this is an excessive length of time?
: I am trying to convey to the Deputy that continuous work was being done by all concerned. I asked for their suggestions. Yesterday afternoon I brought the appropriate bodies together to sit down and discuss the matter. I got quite a number of suggestions. I considered it appropriate to form a working body representative of the authorities I mentioned, so that we can put into operation some of their recommendations to eliminate the dangers now existing in the Phoenix Park.
: Will the Minister let me have the Garda recommendations as he promised six months ago?
: What I was interested to get from the Garda were the statistics of the accident rate. I can supply that information to the Deputy any time he wishes.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister not agree that, in view of the alarming increase in road deaths, what is wanted is immediate action and not a long finger operation in the form of a working party or a commission of inquiry or something like that?
: Is the Deputy talking about the Phoenix Park or road accidents? I am not responsible for road accidents.
: As a member of Dublin City Council I regularly have occasion——
: A question without preamble, Deputy.
: ——to witness the introduction of speed limits in various places. It seems as if the Minister was putting a rocket on the moon rather than introducing a speed limit. Would he explain the need for this convoluted deliberation he is setting up and for the protracted delay in introducing a much-needed speed limit in this area?
: That is a matter of argument. I am calling the next question.
: Why does this area get the treatment it does get when speed limits are introduced regularly all over this country without the action that the Minister is introducing?
: I am trying to cause the least possible inconvenience to anybody who is using the park. That would include the motorists and people going to and from work. I am trying to avoid any inconvenience in that respect and that is why I am anxious that before a final decision is made I would have the co-operation of all parties concerned.
: There is nothing more inconvenient than a fatal accident.