Minister of State Jack Chambers raises concerns with Garda Commissioner as road fatalities rise
Minister of State Jack Chambers said he had received data that non-intercept speed detections were up 45% since 2019 'therefore showing the value of camera-based enforcement', but that a reduction in intercept detections was 'marked and significant'. Photograph: Frank Miller
In the correspondence, seen by The Irish Times, Mr Chambers said detections for mobile phone use by motorists so far this year were down by 40 per cent when compared to the same period in 2019, while the numbers detected driving without a seat belt were down 56 per cent. “I would note also and welcome that arrests for drug driving are up 28 per cent compared to 2019, but it has to be said this is decreasing compared to 2022, 2021 and 2020.”
The Minister of State said that from experience in Ireland and abroad, effective and visible enforcement was necessary to ensure driver behaviour “improves as policy changes are implemented”. “Despite that ill-informed public commentary there was no suggestion that An Garda Síochána was disbanding established units or transferring established personnel during that roster debate,” it said. “There is no organisation policy to reduce numbers in roads policing units. As Garda recruitment continues and accelerates, additional Garda members will become available to be deployed to priority areas.
A spokesman for the Department of Transport said the enforcement of road safety legislation was a “critical part of ensuring the safety of all road users”.
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