asked the Minister for Justice if, having regard to the increasing number and extent of serious traffic jams in Dublin caused by obstruction arising from vehicles which have been involved in collisions, it is proposed to improve the rules and procedures governing the removal of crashed vehicles; if he will provide a specially geared mobile Garda force to assist in clearing such traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Toad Traffic Act, 1961, empowers a member of the Garda Síochána to remove a vehicle left on a public road in such a position as to cause or to be likely to cause danger or obstruction to traffic or is abandoned on a public road.

The powers conferred by the Act are fully availed of by the gardaí to remove vehicles found obstructing traffic whether such vehicles are involved in accidents, abandoned or illegally parked.

The mobile equipment available to the gardaí for the removal of vehicles is fully capable of dealing with motor cars and light vans and the number of occasions when it would be necessary to remove heavier vehicles are very rare.

Does the word "obstruction" there cover obstructing the view at a corner, for example?

I would imagine so

I do not think that is covered.

17.

asked the Minister for Justice whether in view of the heavy traffic jams in Dublin at the moment a shortage of Gardaí available for traffic duty is contributing to the problem.

I would refer the Deputy to the comprehensive replies given by the Minister for Local Government on 23rd July and 30th October, 1969, in relation to traffic problems in Dublin. The number of gardaí assigned to traffic duty varies from time to time according to circumstances and in general is reasonably adequate. There is no reason to think that an increase in these numbers would make a significant contribution to this complex problem.