The Government has so far failed to meet its promise to provide "as a matter of urgency" a computer system to handle the massive increase in on-the-spot fines and allow the introduction of a "penalty point" system for traffic violations.
The "essential technology" to allow gardai to process a huge volume of traffic fines and summonses is central to the State's response to meeting the EU directive that all states reduce their road deaths by 20 per cent by the end of 2002.
More than 5,000 people have died on the Republic's roads in the past decade, a rate which far outstrips deaths from violence even at the worst part of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, announced the State's strategy to reduce road deaths in a highly-publicised statement a year ago this week. He said the level of road deaths was unacceptable and had to be tackled "immediately and systematically".
Mr Ahern's remarks coincided with the publication of the Government's strategy for road safety, in a document entitled The Road to Safety, under the direction of the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey.
A central plan in the State's response, as set out in the document, deals with the computerised, or information technology (IT), capability to upgrade the Garda's road-traffic collating systems.
However, a year later there appears to be no sign of a computer system. A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment said the proposals for a penalty-point system on driving licences and the new computer system would be included in a report from a "high-level" committee which was studying these matters. It would be completed shortly, she said.
The Garda currently has a small number of computers to deal with the processing of road traffic fines and summonses. This work has increased massively with the implementation of the Garda's Operation Lifesaver programme. About 750,000 on-the-spot fines have been handed out since the operation started, bringing an estimated £15 million in revenue to the State.
In order to handle the increase in fines and summonses - which are set to rise again after the announcement of an extension of Operation Lifesaver to apply to seat-belt-wearing and vehicle roadworthiness - the Garda Traffic Branch outlined its needs for a new computerised IT system.
It is understood the Garda estimated this would require some £6 million in investment.
The new system would be needed to handle the introduction of the penalty-point system where drivers accumulate points on their licences which can lead to increased insurance premiums and, eventually, prosecution.
It is understood that during negotiations last year there was a commitment by Government to provide the funding and staff for the system rapidly but, according to Garda sources, nothing has materialised.