A Dublin TD who represents the constituency central to a high-profile gangland feud has asked the minister for justice if she is considering additional resources to allow gardaí to issue summonses to cyclists.
According to records on kildarestreet.com, Maureen O’Sullivan, an independent TD for Dublin Central, ask: “If the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is considering additional resources to allow gardaí to issue summonses to cyclists found to break road laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter”.
As part of a long written reply, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: “The 2017 Garda Policing Plan has indicated a commitment to increase the number of personnel dedicated to traffic duties by 10% to reflect the increasing numbers of personnel across the entire organisation. Given that there was no recruitment for a period of five years it will take some time before there are fully trained officers available to replace the number of personnel that have retired across the entire organisation, including traffic.”
“However, the Commissioner has confirmed that the personnel requirements of the Garda Traffic Corps is currently being assessed to identifying the most vulnerable areas in regard to serious traffic collisions and the level of compliance to Road Traffic Legislation. Combined with this data I am informed that the Assistant Commissioner, Roads Policing and Major Event/Emergency Management is currently assessing the capacity of Divisions and Districts to identify and target areas where An Garda Síochána could accelerate the deployment of personnel to traffic in 2017. The filling of the vacancies identified will be conducted on a structured basis and will be further enhanced with the recently renewed recruitment campaigns to An Garda Síochána,” said Minister Fitzgerald.
She added: “Road traffic legislation is, of course, also enforced as part of the day to day duties of members of An Garda Síochána. Both targeted and general methods of enforcement have a valuable role to play in An Garda Síochána’s enforcement programme, which targets locations with a view to preventing the commission of offences, detecting errant motorists, changing their behaviour and ultimately reducing death and injuries on our roads. As roads policing is the duty of every Garda member, this duty is not reserved for Garda members of the Traffic Corps. Similarly, members of the Traffic Corps are required to engage in the core activity of An Garda Síochána concerning the prevention and detection of crime.”
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This is politics and ideology, not safety.
Hilarious. I haven’t seen a Garda walking the streets in nearly six months. Odd few in cars and motorbike/bicycles. This will really improve road safety, like how many cars have been knocked down by cyclists?
This murderous spree by roving gangs of CYCLISTS is totally out of control and all the resources of the state should be brought to bear to address this endemic which cuts to the core fabric of society.