Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2004
402 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the enforcement of regulations in respect of the compulsory fitting of speed limitation devices on buses over 10,000 kg and HGVs over 12,000 kg; the number of prosecutions for violations of these regulations recorded in the past three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3585/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda authorities enforce the regulations in respect of the compulsory fitting of speed limitation devices on buses-coaches with more than eight passenger seats, excluding the driver's seat, with a design gross vehicle weight exceeding ten tonnes and heavy goods vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes. Vehicles first registered prior to 1988 are exempted from these regulations. Speed limiters must be set at 85 km/h in the case of heavy goods vehicles and 100 km/h in the case of buses and coaches.
Breaches of these regulations are dealt with as part of routine enforcement by the Garda Síochána and are also targeted by multi-agency checkpoints carried out by the gardaí in conjunction with the Department of Transport, the Health and Safety Authority and the Revenue Commissioners. The Garda authorities have advised me that figures from PULSE for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2003 indicate that proceedings for breaches of the regulations were initiated in 56 cases. This figure is provisional and subject to change.
