The firm that operates the network of speed camera vans for the Gardaí received monthly payments of €1.43m last year.

The privately run road safety camera system, which was supposed to be self-financing, cost the State €11m in 2012.

THOUSANDS of frustrated motorists caused a new speed camera website to crash during most of yesterday, just hours before the camera system went live at midnight.

The new network of speed cameras will record more than 750 hours of driving before the end of the month, it emerged tonight.