A local TD says the findings of the Crowe Report on roads policing were deeply concerning.
A damning new report has found a 'noticeable minority' of gardai in the Roads Policing Units are disinterested, demotivated and have a poor work ethic.
It found some of these officers have no issue revealing how little they work, how much they dislike their job and how they're eagerly looking forward to retirement.
Matt Carthy says he would be proposing that the Justice Committee would urgently discuss the report with the incoming Garda Commissioner Justice Kelly and Minister Jim O'Callaghan.
In a statement, Deputy Carthy said "The findings of the Crowe Report on roads policing are deeply concerning. The report found that a number of gardaí were deliberately ignoring offences, had a poor work ethic and were unconcerned about doing an effective, professional job. It also highlighted the fact that some Roads Policing Unit Gardaí had their Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) switched off.
"Given that ANPR automatically detects speeding and tells Gardaí if a vehicle is stolen or suspect that is very serious. We have had a number of shocking incidents where people have been killed by those engaged in criminality in dangerous driving incidents. If there are members of the Gardaí who are effectively allowing such drivers on our roads by switching off their ANPR that is shocking and unacceptable.
"While the report found that the majority of Roads Policing Unity members were productive and focused on improving road safety, it does raise serious concerns about a lack of effective supervision and management. These issues have to be addressed urgently.
"The job of roads policing is vital. We continue to have far too many fatalities on our roads, including serious issues with dangerous driving. As well as motorists who have been killed and seriously injured there has been a large number of pedestrians killed on our roads, including 23 so far this year.
"The report also highlights the fact that there are 40% fewer members in the Roads policing Unit compared to 2009. The understaffing of the Roads Policing Unit is something which I have raised repeatedly with the Minister for Justice.
"It is something that has to be addressed and can only be done so when the Minister for Justice gets to grip with the recruitment retention crisis in An Garda Síochána, which saw a net increase of a mere seven members in the first five months of 2025
"We cannot accept anything less than the highest level of professionalism from An Garda Síochána in terms of the policing of our roads.
"I will be proposing that the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration invite in the incoming Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan to discuss the Crowe Report and what can be done to address its findings."
