Sinn Féin spokesperson on Transport and Communications Martin Kenny TD has criticised government’s failure to grow numbers within the Garda Roads Policing Unit.

His comments come after he received a Parliamentary Question response from the Department of Justice which reveals that “as of the end of February 2024, there were 627 members assigned to the Garda roads policing unit, compared to 623 in 2017”.

Speaking today, Teachta Kenny said: 

“This is an appalling failure and shows government has failed to act with the urgency road safety requires.

“Fatalities on our roads have increased by more than 20% in the first four months of this year, yet we don’t see a growth in Garda members to police our roads.

“I recently submitted an amendment to the Road Traffic Bill 2024, which would ensure that a minimum number of Gardaí are maintained within the roads policing units each year. For reasons best known to themselves, TD’s from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party voted against this.

“The majority of road users are safe, responsible people. However, for those who are continuing to engage in dangerous behaviours which are risking their own lives and those around them, we need to see enforcement of current roads legislation.

“This cannot happen without a Roads Policing Unit that is resourced in terms of tools and boots-on-the-ground. The solutions are there and government must act urgently and decisively to deliver the change that is needed. There are no excuses for government inaction on this serious issue.”