Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Transport if the system introduced on 3 April 2006 by the Garda which resulted in all offences being dealt with under the fixed charge processing system includes provision for offences under by-laws introduced by local authorities and includes all non penalty points road traffic offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18422/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I made a number of regulations on 28 March 2006 to extend the fixed charge system which is provided in the Road Traffic Act 2002 from 3 April 2006 to a wide range of offences.

Firstly, this new fixed charge system applies to the enforcement by the Garda Síochána or traffic wardens authorised by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of a range of specified offences under section 103 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. The offences concerned are all listed in the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2005 (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2006 (SI No. 135 of 2006).

Secondly, the fixed charge system was extended for the enforcement by traffic wardens employed by local authorities of specified parking offences, non-display of motor tax disc or non-display of insurance disc offences under section 3 of the Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Act 1975. The range of offences that come within the ambit of section 3 enforcement are non-penalty point offences and include offences contained in bye-laws made by local authorities in relation to the use of public car parks provided by the local authority or bye-laws in relation to on-street pay parking schemes. The offences concerned are all listed in the Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Act 1975 (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2006 (SI No. 136 of 2006). The extension of the fixed charge system that I have referred to relates to offences that involve the driving or use of a mechanically propelled vehicle.

A further extension of the fixed charge system will be pursued in due course to extend the application of the fixed charge system to the commission of non-penalty point offences that do not involve the use of a mechanically propelled vehicle.