Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the stage of development of the technology required to ensure the full implementation of all existing Road Traffic Acts; when such technology will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15499/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The fixed charge processing system, FCPS, is the Garda IT system for processing fixed charge road traffic offences including the requirements for the penalty points system.

The FCPS is currently operational in the Dublin metropolitan region, Cork city and parts of Louth and Meath. Accordingly, the Garda Síochána exchange information with the following organisations: the Courts Service for summons applications and court hearing dates; the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the national driver file and the national vehicle file; a third party service provider for the printing and posting of fixed charge notices; and a third party service provider engaged by the Department of Transport, for details of fixed charges that have been paid, who in turn forward this information to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for updating the national driver file with the penalty points data.

The system will be extended nationwide in conjunction with the commencement of a fixed charge payment collection service by An Post. This is currently subject to finalisation of contract negotiations between my Department and An Post and subject to successful conclusion, it is planned to commence operation towards the end of July. This will increase the automation of processes with the various agencies.

Towards the end of this year it is planned to co-ordinate the summons generated from the FCPS with summons for the same individual generated from PULSE and this will be of further benefit to the Courts Service.

With regard to the commencement of further penalty point offences, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport. The FCPS system can accommodate these offences as they are commenced.