Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Transport the different means of communication used by his Department to notify the general public, especially those in ownership of vehicles, of the new points offences under the Road Traffic Act 2004; if he has satisfied himself in view of the high number of new offences, that the general public are fully aware and informed of the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17395/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that an intensive public awareness campaign has been undertaken in relation to the penalty point system. A multimedia public awareness campaign, including TV advertisements, radio advertisements and full page notices in national newspapers was carried out with the extension of the penalty points system to an additional 31 offences from 3 April.

The National Safety Council (NSC), as the agency mandated with responsibility for road safety education and information, operates a dedicated penalty point website www.penaltypoints.ie. This website has recently been redesigned/updated in the context of the extension of the penalty point system.

In addition, the National Safety Council ran a special public education/awareness campaign about the extension of the penalty points system, which took place from the end of March in the lead up to the 3 April 2006. The campaign included newspaper advertisements outlining the details of the penalty point offences.

No new offences, as such, were created. From 3 April, the penalty point system was extended to apply to a number of offences that were already in force but where motorists were previously subject to a fine-on-the spot or a direct summons to Court for breaching these offences.