Traffic Corps to reduce fatalities by 25% - McDowell

The new Garda Traffic Corps aims to reduce fatalities on the State's roads by 25 per cent by the end of 2006, according to plans announced today.

The corps will not be fully operational until 2008, at which time it will employ 1200 gardaí and cost €124 million in wages alone.

But the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell and the Minister for Transport, Mr Cullen claimed today the money would be well spent.

Initial costs for 2005, are estimated at €22 million, half of which will cover the wages of the 530 existing traffic gardaí, who will be reassigned to the corps, and those of the additional 33 recruited in 2005.

The remaining €11 million will pay for the purchase and upkeep of new fleets for the 40 new units to be set up around the country.

The decision as to where these units will be established will be left up to a new Assistant Commissioner "in charge of all aspects road traffic law."  Arrangements will be made "quickly" to fill this post, according to Mr McDowell.

In 2006 the force will increase to 805 members, the year after it will exceed 1,000, and finally, in 2008, there will be 1,200 members according Mr McDowell.

However the minister has been criticised by Opposition parties for delaying the introduction of the corps promised in 2002.

Critics say the additional number of gardai needed for the corps is not feasible considering current recruitment figures for the force.

Fine Gael TD Mr John O'Keefe said: "I  support  the  plan  for  a  dedicated Garda Traffic Corps but the Minister's announcement  is  unfortunately nothing more than another plan at this stage.

"He is  re-branding  the  existing 530 gardaí already on traffic duty in the various divisions  around  the  country.  He  has  no additional Garda numbers to add to these, nor is there any provision in the estimates for additional equipment.

"Unfortunately,  because  the Government has been so slow in meeting its promise to recruit an extra 2,000 gardaí, it will be years before the additional numbers are  available for the Traffic Corps. Almost half of the Traffic Corps personnel will  have to be recruited,  yet it takes two years to train a new Garda," added Mr O'Keefe,

However it is the green light to recruit the 2,000 new members that has allowed the plan to go ahead and recruitment will begin presently insists Mr McDowell.

"The recruitment advertisement will be in the papers later this week," said Mr McDowell.

Labour Party Spokesperson on Justice, Mr Joe Costello has welcomed the announcement but also doubts the ability of the Minister to deliver.

"The Minister for Justice has a great habit of announcing and re-announcing the same plans and this is not the first time the Garda traffic corps has been proclaimed," he said today. "The original government commitment in 2002 was to have the traffic corps in place after six months - two years later we are still waiting.

"The Minister must now state when we will see these Gardai on the roads. The rate of fatalities on our roads so far this year has exceeded the total for last year and there can no longer be any delay," he added.

There have been 322 people killed on the roads this year, 22 more than last year.