Vol. 359 No. 3
asked the Minister for Justice the number of serious road traffic accidents involving heavy duty articulated lorries in each of the last two years; and the number of prosecutions issued in respect of drivers of such lorries for failing to comply with statutory requirements.
9.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied that heavy duty articulated lorries are complying with safety, environmental and other statutory requirements.
(Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9, together.
I understand from the Garda authorities that the latest years for which statistics relating to accidents involving articulated lorries are available are 1982 and 1983. The statistics published by An Foras Forbartha in Road Accident Facts, based on information obtained from the Garda, show that in 1982 there were 89 accidents involving injuries, 28 of which were fatal; and in 1983 the figure was 100, 16 of which were fatal.
Statistics relating to prosecutions of drivers of such vehicles — whether in relation to failure to comply with safety or other road traffic requirements — are not recorded seperately and could only be compiled at the expense of diverting Garda manpower from other duties.
As regards the question of whether articulated lorries are complying with safety, environmental and other statutory requirements, there are, as the Deputy may be aware, two main features to this matter. There is a scheme under which annual tests are carried out on vehicles which are more than one year old. This scheme was established pursuant to statutory regulations made by the Minister for the Environment and is administered by the Department of the Environment in conjunction with the local authorities. Vehicles which pass the test are issued with a certificate of roadworthiness. As regards the role of the Garda Síochána, the Garda have the general duty of enforcing compliance with road traffic legislation and, in this context, have the power to demand production of roadworthiness certificates from vehicle users.
The Garda authorities inform me that enforcement work in this area receives as much attention as possible having regard to the many other demands made on Garda manpower and resources.
Would the Minister accept that this is an increasing difficulty, particularly in cities? Would he also accept that there seems to be many cowboys operating in this business and that a substantial portion of these are operating without fulfilling the necessary statutory requirements of insurance, taxation and the general statutory requirements pertaining to heavy duty articulated lorries? In general, would the Minister accept my assertion that this problem, particularly in the new estates throughout the city, creates increasing difficulties? When the Garda catch up with these people they find that they are dealing with people who cannot be called other than cowboys because they are not complying with the legislation.
(Limerick East): That kind of submission has been made to me previously, certainly by people involved in the legitimate side of the industry, but I have not accurate information to substantiate what the Deputy is saying.
The feelings of one Deputy in one constituency are that it is on the increase and that the people involved appear to be increasingly responsible for road accidents and for causing difficulties in what up to now had been normally quiet housing estates.
