Harris raises lack of garda roads policing resources

'I am concerned about the level of garda resource in road traffic,' said Taoiseach Simon Harris. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said not enough garda resources are put into roads policing, while one of his junior ministers has claimed garda enforcement has "collapsed".

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has confirmed plans to roll out new cameras that will automatically fine drivers who break red lights. Last week Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said all uniformed gardaí are to have to conduct 30 minutes of road safety policing per shift, and 75 gardaí are to be added to roads policing "in both 2024 and 2025".

However, Mr Harris said: "I am concerned about the level of garda resource in road traffic. I know the commissioner has to make difficult decisions with the resources available to him. 

I want to see those resources increase, so does he, and he expects them to increase during the course of this year."

There has been a heightened focus on road safety with the numbers killed in crashes this year now at 63, a 31% increase on the same period in 2023.

Mr Chambers, the junior transport minister, said the Government is working to reduce speeds through the Road Traffic Bill, but this needs to be aided by a “serious uplift” in Garda enforcement because "enforcement levels have collapsed".

Currently, roads policing units account for just 627 members of the force. There were more than 1,000 in 2014.

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Mr Harris and a number of ministers met with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) today to discuss the carnage on the roads.

It was agreed the RSA will provide proposals to the Data Protection Commission around sharing of collision data, with the Government committing to changing existing laws if required.

There was also agreement to take “further action” on road accident blackspots.

The RSA also committed to spend €3m more on road safety campaigns, while Gardaí will be requested to provide “ongoing enforcement activity plans”, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said.

The Taoiseach was also told by the RSA that driving test waiting times will average 10 weeks by the middle of the year and that waiting times for NCT invitation to tests be cut to 12 days.

New cameras

In addition, “technical and legal issues” will be resolved, permitting cameras to identify both mobile phone use and people not wearing a seatbelt.

It comes as new cameras that will automatically fine motorists who break red lights are to be introduced before the end of the year.

The transport minister confirmed that the new technology will begin to be rolled out in Dublin. It is understood that nine of the cameras will initially be installed around the city.

Currently, motorists who break red lights are subject to three penalty points and an €80 fine, rising to €120 if not paid in 28 days. If convicted, this rises to five penalty points.

Mr Harris said that while roads policing does need to increase, there is an onus on drivers to take personal responsibility.

“You don't need a guard to tell you not to drink and drive," he said. "You don't need a guard to tell you not to take drugs. And we really have to start having conversations in our families, in the workplace, around this sort of trend.”