Press Release   

24 November 2004

Proposed Traffic Corps a damp squib –Green Party

The Governments proposal for a Traffic Corps is little more than window-dressing according to the Green Party.

Ciarán Cuffe TD, the Green Party’s Justice Spokesperson said today: “A promise to assign thirty-two extra Garda to the Traffic Corps over the next 14 months is hardly a radical proposal. There are already over five hundred Gardai assigned to the existing Traffic unit.

The existing Traffic Corps require additional funding and additional civilian staff in order to carry out its job properly. There is no sign of this in today’s announcement.”

“Irish motorists are less likely to get caught for speeding and drink driving than their European counterparts. An increase in resources is required if we are to bring down the death toll on Irish Roads.

“Fatalities to date in 2004 on Irish roads are already equal to last year’s total for the entire year. Clearly radical action is required, but there is no sign of this in today’s announcement.” ENDS