I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the information sought in respect of the number of fixed charge notices issued to date for speeding offences, the number of such notices paid and the number of summonses issued in respect of unpaid notices is currently being compiled and I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as it is available to me. Any penalty points imposed are recorded on an individual's record in the national driver file, a centralised computerised record of licence holders, which is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
A contract for the development of the computerised fixed charge processing system, FCPS, was finalised and signed with the successful tenderer in September 2002. The request for tender document targeted a 15 month timeframe from commencement of the project for the supplier to develop the system. This will be followed by a period during which the system will be piloted and monitored before being rolled out nation-wide by the Garda. It is expected that implementation of the system throughout the State will commence in the second quarter of 2004 with the progressive extension of the system to cater for all penalty point offences taking place as quickly as possible thereafter.