Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will list each of the road traffic offences to which penalty points apply and the number of penalty points in each case; his proposals and the timescale for the inclusion of all other offences which are due to be included in the penalty points scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9679/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of persons penalised under the penalty points system; the number that have exceeded the various categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9922/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 124 together.

At present, the penalty points system that is provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2002 applies to four road traffic offences, namely, the offences of exceeding a speed limit, non-compliance with safety belt requirements, using a vehicle without insurance and careless driving.

For the offence of exceeding a speed limit, a driver will incur four penalty points on conviction in court or two penalty points on payment of a fixed charge. For the offence of not wearing a safety belt, a driver will incur four penalty points on conviction in court or two penalty points on payment of a fixed charge. For permitting a person under 17 years to occupy a rear seat when not wearing a safety belt or appropriate child restraint, a driver will incur four penalty points on conviction in court or two penalty points on payment of a fixed charge. For permitting a person under 17 years to occupy a front seat when not wearing a safety belt or appropriate child restraint, a driver will incur four penalty points on conviction in court or two penalty points on payment of a fixed charge. For the offence of using a vehicle without insurance, a driver will incur five penalty points on conviction in court. For the offence of careless driving, a driver will incur five penalty points on conviction in court.

All of the road traffic offences that are scheduled to come within the ambit of the penalty points system, together with details of the number of penalty points attaching to each offence, are set out in the First Schedule to the Road Traffic Act 2002 and in the amendment inserted therein by section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2004.

The operation of the fixed charge system, provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2002, is dependent on the development of a new computerised processing system for the Garda Síochána. It is expected to have the new system available during the summer. Regulations to support the extension of the fixed charge and penalty points systems, as applicable, to a wide range of offences will be put in place when the new IT system comes on stream.