Vol. 528 No. 1
310 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 5 December 2000, the penalty points system will be in operation by 2002; if he has looked at the IT systems used elsewhere in operating a penalty points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29756/00]
The Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002 envisages a penalty point system as a key measure in support of road safety enforcement. The Government approved the drafting of legislation necessary for this measure on 26 July 2000.
The administration of the penalty points system will be supported by the proposed computerised national driver file, NDF, the application for which is currently being funded. In prospect of the NDF becoming available in 2001, a project team involving my Department, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda and the Court Service has been set up to progress a penalty points capacity within the NDF and to ensure that relevant IT programmes of the Garda and the Courts Service, which are now also under development, can also handle a penalty points system. It is envisaged that the penalty points system will be in operation by 2002.
The preparation of an Irish penalty points system has involved study of comparable systems operating in other EU member states both from a legal and organisational perspective. The intended design of the Irish system is unlikely, however, to permit any significant replication of the models operating in other countries.
