Tom Hayes
Question:149 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to review the penalty points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7164/03]
Written Answers - Penalty Points System.
Brendan Howlin
Question:172 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he has received a report from the Garda on the operation to date of the penalty points system; the number of motorists on whom penalty points have been imposed; if a substantial number of drivers who have been stopped for offences have not had the penalty points added to their licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7115/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 172 together.
I refer to my reply to Priority Question No. 128 where I outlined the preliminary data made available from the Garda and the Department of the Environment and Local Government in relation to the operation of the penalty points system.
Penalty points for speeding have been operating since 31 October. Penalty points are being applied to the driving licence records of those convicted of speeding offences, and to those who pay a fixed charge to the Garda in order to prevent the instigation of court proceedings.
The application of enforcement policy in relation to the offence of the breaching of speed limits is a matter for the Garda Síochána. The compilation of detailed data in relation to the number of detections for speeding offences since the launch of the penalty points system is also a matter for the Garda. I have been assured by Garda management that there has been no reduction in enforcement efforts since the launch of the scheme and that despite it there has been a noticeable reduction in the number of speeding detections.
The recording of convictions for offences is a matter for the Courts Service. The compilation of data relating to payments of fixed charges where the relevant notices are issued by the Garda Síochána is a matter for that force. Both of those organisations transfer the appropriate data to the Department of the Environment and Local Government to facilitate its entry into the national driver file which is the responsibility of that Department. It is understood from the Department of the Environment and Local Government that 8,289 penalty point notices have issued as at 5 March.
The full application of the penalty points system will be achieved when the IT systems of the Garda and the Courts Service are developed. The question of reviewing the system will be considered against the background of its full operation.