More gardaí are to be assigned to traffic duties in the early hours of the morning on the Inishowen Peninsula, Co Donegal, in response to the recent spate of fatal traffic accidents in the area, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said yesterday.
The new rostering arrangements are to be piloted immediately and will involve more officers being on duty after 2am, when most accidents occur. Nationally, the new Garda Traffic Corps is to be increased from 520 at present to 1,200 by 2008.
Speaking at the opening of a new €5 million Garda station and courthouse in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, Mr McDowell criticised local authorities and the courts for failing to exercise powers conferred on them two years ago to determine policy in relation to late night pub closing in their area.
In a heightened battle against dangerous driving and speeding, parents are to be urged to pay closer attention to the risks involved when allowing their children to drive family cars.
"The message has to get across that cars are lethal and, in the hands of young people who are in recreational mood, are extremely dangerous," Mr McDowell said.
"Parents in particular who give access to young people to those cars have to bear in mind exactly what the risks are."
He said a record recruitment drive by the force would pave the way for a "massive increase" in traffic corps numbers.
The additional members would all be assigned to front-line, high-profile operations.
Some garda recruits currently under training at the Garda training college in Templemore, Co Tipperary, would be assigned to the traffic corps. There would be a significant increase next year in the numbers being assigned.
Mr McDowell said the recent road deaths in Donegal had shocked the nation. Local authorities and the courts were failing to exercise their powers to dictate late night pub opening hours.
"To date, not one local authority has yet exercised that power. Local government has to make decisions as to the hours when these places must close and it is for the local licensing courts to make sure that the risk, and it is a risk, is kept within limits."
Mr McDowell also referred to the problem of Northern Ireland drivers escaping punishment for speeding in the Republic. He supported an all-Ireland approach to the issue, and he knew there was good will for the idea from police in the North.
Assistant Commissioner Martin Donnellan, the most senior officer in the northern region Garda division, said plans were already well advanced for a pilot scheme in Inishowen.
Traffic officers covering the region from their base at Burt would operate a new rostering system. An analysis of collision statistics revealed most fatal crashes occurred after 2am.
The opening of the new courthouse in Ballyshannon means the local court now has its first permanent home after 12 years in temporary accommodation.