Penalty Points System.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 March 2004

Tuesday, 2 March 2004

Ceisteanna (82, 83, 84)

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

138 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to review the penalty points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6728/04]

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

174 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport if he has decided on a definite date for the computerisation of the penalty points system; the number of drivers who have received penalty points to date; if there have been any disqualifications to date based on the number of points received; the timetable for the extension of the system to other road offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6786/04]

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

193 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to roll out the other offences under the penalty points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6730/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 174 and 193 together.

Penalty points are being applied to the driving licence records of those convicted of speeding, seat belt wearing and insurance offences, and to those who pay a fixed charge to the Garda — in the case of speeding and seat belt wearing offences — to prevent the instigation of court proceedings.

The full application of the penalty points system will be achieved when the relevant IT systems being developed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda are completed. The question of reviewing the system will be considered against the background of its full operation.

It is now one year and four months since penalty points for were first introduced. At the end of January, 2004 over 107,000 drivers have received penalty points since the introduction of the system in October 2002. At the end of January, no driver had accumulated the 12 point threshold which leads to automatic disqualification.

Question No. 139 answered with QuestionNo. 136.