Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 625: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on giving drivers without special needs who park in designated areas leaving no space for drivers with special needs two points for this offence in view of the problems that drivers with special needs have to endure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10137/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The focus of the penalty points system is on driver behaviour that impacts on road safety. The only parking offence that is included in the system is the serious offence of dangerous parking. It is considered that it would not be appropriate to extend the system to include drivers who illegally park in a disabled persons parking bay.

A number of measures have already been initiated on other fronts to impose a deterrent against such illegal parking, for example, last year I prescribed a fixed charge of €80 to apply to illegal parking in a disabled person's designated parking space from 3 April 2006. The amount of the fixed charge increases by 50% to €120 if it is not paid within 28 days. This level of fixed charge is double the level that applies to any other illegal parking offence. If no payment is received within that 56-day period, a court prosecution is initiated. Where a person does not pay the charge is subsequently convicted in court of the said offence he or she is liable to a fine.

Provision was made in the Road Traffic Act 2006 to increase the level of maximum monetary fine that a court can impose in respect of a range of offences. I made a Commencement Order earlier this month in relation to that statutory provision and, as a result, a person convicted of illegal parking is liable, from 5 March 2007, to receive a fine not exceeding €1,000 for a first offence, a fine not exceeding €2,000 for a second or subsequent offence and in the case of a third or subsequent offence committed within a twelve month period, a fine up to €2,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 3 months. The level of fine to be imposed in any instance is at the discretion of the court.