The number of gardaí policing the roads is "not sufficient and isn't acceptable", according to Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers.
His comments come as checkpoints are in place across the country as part of a garda bank holiday road enforcement operation.
The campaign is aimed at making roads safer by highlighting dangers facing motorists and an increased focus of targeting road users who flout the law.
Gardaí are warning motorists that the risk of being killed or seriously injured in road crashes is particularly high today.
So far this year, 56 people have lost their lives in road collisions, including a woman in her 30s who died following a two-car collision on the N24 in Co Tipperary last night.
Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Mary Regan, Mr Chambers said he has expressed his concern to the Garda Commissioner as he underlined the need for an increase in the number of gardaí deployed to roads policing units to "break the current trend".
There are around 640 gardaí assigned to roads policing, he said.
"That does not meet the threshold that will help break this trend," Mr Chambers said.
"That is a worry and concern to me as minister for road safety, as perception and enforcement is absolutely key when it comes to the deterrent effect."
Minister Chambers said An Garda Síochána is running a number of competitions for roads policing units and the Assistant Garda Commissioner.
"So there will be a roads policing dividend out of the wider recruitment that is happening in An Garda Síochána," Mr Chambers said.
'People feel they are not going to get stopped on the road'
Also speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Mary Regan, Aontú leader Peader Tóibín said there is a "massive recruitment problem" within the gardaí and called the government's track record a "disaster".
"It is very disappointing that even though we have this enormous increase in fatalities we do not have a firm commitment on firm numbers from the government in relation to this," he said.
Mr Tóibín also said research shows drink driving does not have the same stigma anymore and one in ten are admitting to having taken a drink and driving.
"Behaviours are changing because people feel they just simply are not going to get stopped on the road," he said.
Sinn Féin TD Mairead Farrell also warned of a "more lax attitude" to drink and drug driving and a need to see "boots on the ground".
Speaking at a checkpoint in Chapelizod in Dublin yesterday, Sergeant Gavin Coleman said the number has increased by 13 from this time last year, "so it is going in the wrong direction this year".
Asked why today might be the most dangerous time this Bank Holiday weekend in terms of collisions, Sgt Coleman said: "People are travelling for social reasons. Or not commuting.
"You may be going somewhere that's unfamiliar. You may be relaxing. You're not doing the same trip every day."
He warned that it only takes a split second for accidents to happen.
In Northern Ireland, the PSNI said 71 people died on the roads in 2023 - an eight-year high.
Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson from Operational Support Department said: "Another 15 have already lost their lives on our roads since 1 January 2024.
"I am appealing to every member of the public to take more care on the roads.
""We know there will be more road users on our road network during the public holidays, including drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. This leads to an increased risk of collisions, so it is important to remember we ALL have a responsibility to be safe and take extra care on our roads.
"In the coming days we will be paying particular attention to our road network specifically looking for road users taking unnecessary and potentially life-changing risks."
