Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 5

Written Answers. - Road Safety.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

113 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if the computerised system for management of the points system for drivers licences will facilitate the extraction of statistics which show regional variations in the level of points awarded, variations in the level of points awarded by individual gardaí and the number of points awarded in respect of each of the offences for which points can be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the general level of statistical information which the system will provide. [3053/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

Penalty points are recorded on the licence record of an individual on the national driver file, which is held and administered by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Points are endorsed on the licence record on receipt of either a notification from the Garda Síochána of the payment of a fixed charge, or notification of a conviction from the Courts Service in respect of an offence which attracts penalty points. Offences and the number of penalty points to be awarded in respect of such offences are set down in the First Schedule of the Road Traffic Act 2002. It is the intention that the database will be capable of providing statistical information by reference to licensing authority areas, numbers of penalty points, offences, etc. Information relating to individual gardaí is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. When the penalty point system is fully operational it will involve the national driver file, and the computer systems of the Garda Síochána and the courts, currently being developed.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

114 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if, in the interests of enhanced road safety and of discouraging drink driving, he will examine the possibility of requiring insurance companies to provide open drive insurance subject to a requirement that permanent employees of companies which use such insurance, must provide to the insurer a copy of their driving licence and a statement of penalty points incurred in order to eliminate the phenomenon of drunk drivers who drive company vehicles evading insurance penalties arising from convictions from drink driving. [3056/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

While issues concerned with the cost and availability of motor insurance are primarily matters for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I have taken a number of road safety initiatives that I expect to have a positive effect on the cost of motor insurance. The more significant of these include the implementation of penalty points for speeding offences and the phased roll out of penalty points to other offences. In addition, my Department is working towards the earliest possible implementation of those recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board for which I have responsibility and which the MIAB considers will contribute to lower insurance costs.