The revelation that 125 members of the Garda Traffic Unit are on duty at any one time to patrol the State's roads, has been condemned by Fine Gael.
Party transport spokesman, Mr Denis Naughten, said the figures which emerged at the Oireachtas Transport Committee today could put "the successful implementation of the new penalty points system is in serious doubt" and "makes a mockery of the Government's new penalty points advertising campaign".
"The number of Traffic Unit Gardaí on duty falls further when administration and leave periods are taken into account. Gardaí have also warned that the penalty points system is about to collapse due to a lack of resources and bureaucracy, while the computerised penalty points system will not be available for a further 12 months," Mr Naughten said.
He pointed to a Government report states that for every €1 spent on road safety, eight lives on the road will be saved.
"Unless the Government increases Garda resources to properly enforce the penalty points system, any impact from its introduction will be lost within a few short months. The level of carnage will increase while the possibility of reduced insurance premiums will diminish unless the Government puts more funds into enforcement."