Vol. 559 No. 2
176 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport his proposals to make it an offence under the new penalty points system for people who park in designated disabled parking spaces, without proper disabled parking permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26009/02]
The Government road safety strategy 1998-2002 recommended that a system of penalty points should be introduced. It was envisaged in the strategy that the system would support road safety by tracking a range of motoring offences that have a direct impact on road safety.
The Road Traffic Act, 2002, which provides the legislative basis for the penalty points system, reflects that approach. The Act identifies 69 offences to which the system applies. All of these are directly related to road safety. The system has already been introduced in respect of speeding offences with effect from 31 October. I expect that the full implementation of the system will be achieved by the end of 2003.
The penalty points system will be kept under review as it becomes fully operational and having regard to the forthcoming road safety strategy. The question of extending the system to cover parking offences such as illegal parking in disabled persons parking spaces would have to be justified on grounds of road safety.
