Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 November 2015
19. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the third payment option for the payment of fixed charge notices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39050/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 44 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 provides for the introduction of a "third payment option" within the Fixed Charge Notice System. Under this mechanism a person who is served with a summons for a fixed charge offence will have a final opportunity to pay a fixed charge, of an amount 100% greater than the original penalty, not later than seven days before the Court date on which the charge is to heard. If a person takes up this option, proceedings are discontinued and the person need not attend.
The introduction of the "third payment option" is a complex project involving An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Department of Justice & Equality, my Department, and the Attorney General's Office. The project involves the merging of two totally different systems – the Fixed Charge Notice System operated by An Garda Síochána and the summonses issuing system operated by the Courts, in essence creating a hybrid system. It entails tens of thousands of cases being processed through the system each year. The project needs to be very carefully specified to deliver, inter alia, an automated system dealing with the receipt of monies, and the cancellation of the Court appearance or not, depending on whether the money is paid or not. The project is currently at the detailed design stage and the implementation date is expected to be mid to end of 2016, as I have previously stated.
