Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Some 36 fixed charge offences under the Road Traffic Acts are covered by the Garda fixed charge processing system. If a person makes a payment of up to €80 within 26 days, or a higher payment of up to €120 within a second period of 26 days, a prosecution will not be proceeded with. Some 31 fixed charges also attract penalty points. An Garda Síochána operates the fixed charge system itself.

There is ongoing liaison between my Department, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, An Garda Síochána and other parties, including the Courts Service, on the effective enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts, including the fixed charge system. As a result of these contacts I will take the opportunity in the forthcoming road traffic Bill to introduce measures to amend certain provisions relating to the operation of the fixed charge and penalty point system to improve its effectiveness and to support the better use of the resources of the gardaí and the Courts Service. My overall objective is to maximise the number of cases dealt with under the fixed charge system rather than proceeding to court.

Implementation of the system itself in accordance with the legislative provisions in the Road Traffic Acts is a matter for An Garda Síochána.

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