Further delays for cameras

THERE IS growing frustration in the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Department of Transport at the amount of time it is taking to conclude contract negotiations with the company chosen to provide privatised speed cameras.

RSA chief executive Noel Brett said he was “disappointed that we have not got safety cameras in place” at an appearance before the Oireachtas Committee last week. “For every week that those cameras are not present, collisions will occur,” he said.

The reason for the delay is unclear. Responding to a Dáil question, the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said contract discussions were underway and that “every effort is being made to proceed with this project as speedily as possible”.

Contract negotiations with preferred bidder GoSafe have been ongoing since the beginning of the year and funding of €10 million was provided to pay for the first six months of the scheme. Mr Ahern gave no indication as to why it has taken so long.

Instead, the Minister indicated the project was now likely to be pushed to 2010, saying that “decisions on the provision of funding for the project will be made in the context of the 2010 [budget] estimates”.

He made no reference to the €10 million allocated or to the fact that the cameras are expected to earn a profit for the Exchequer.