McDowell pledges extra gardaí to end road carnage

THE number of gardaí working in the Traffic Corps is to be doubled to 1,100 in a bid to stop the carnage on the roads, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said last night.

Mr McDowell also confirmed the Government is considering appointing a new Minister for State to take full responsibility for road-traffic enforcement. He said additional funding for the expansion programme has been secured and 550 gardaí currently being trained at Templemore will join the Traffic Corps by September 2006.

He said he would bring the proposals for the establishment of a special traffic enforcement junior ministry before ministers soon. He said one of the main problems in curbing road deaths at the moment is that two departments - Justice and Transport - have responsibility for road safety.