Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Transport if the cross-Border pilot project on enforcing toll charges and parking fines has begun; the details of the pilot project; the cost of same; the length of time it will run; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12797/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The non-payment of tolls and penalties arising from road traffic offences incurred by out of State vehicles has been a matter of concern for some time. To address this issue in a North/South context, discussions between my Department and its UK and Northern Ireland counterparts resulted in an agreement to introduce a data exchange pilot project with Northern Ireland. This involves the transfer of vehicle ownership data which will allow the authorities in each jurisdiction to identify people who have not paid tolls or traffic penalties. It will then be a matter for the relevant authorities to pursue recovery of the outstanding amounts using this information. No change in the law is involved, nor does the agreement cover arrangements for the recovery of payments.

The pilot project was launched at the North South Ministerial Council meeting on 3 March, and will run until the end of November this year.

The technical systems involved have been fully tested and are in readiness for live operation. It is expected that the process of exchanging the data between the relevant vehicle registration and licensing authorities in both jurisdictions will commence shortly. As the exchange process will rely largely on technical systems already in place there will be no ongoing additional cost.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is preparing legislation to introduce specific penalties for heavy goods vehicles related road offences; the Department or agency that is responsible for invigilating and monitoring the European working time directive as it relates to HGVs; if there is now a risk rating register in operation to monitor rogue HGV operators who have committed offences here and abroad; the number of HGV drivers licences that have been rescinded following a fatal collision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12779/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Traffic and Road Transport Acts already provide for heavy goods vehicles related offences and respective penalties on conviction in court for such offences.

However, the Road Traffic Bill 2009, which is currently before the Dáil for Second Stage consideration, provides for the inclusion of offences under the Road Transport Act 1933, not tried on indictment, and under any regulation made under the European Communities Act 1972, providing for the carriage of merchandise by road or the carriage of passengers by road or the issuing of transport discs within the Fixed Charge System which replaced the old 'on-the-spot fines' system in 2002. Such offences are currently dealt with by way of direct summons to court.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Road Transport Working Time Directive. EC Member States are also obliged under Directive 2006/22 EC to introduce a risk rating system for undertakings based on the relative number and severity of any infringements of drivers hours rules. The RSA has established a risk rating register in line with requirements of the Directive and matters relating to the risk register are dealt with by the RSA.

My Department holds data regarding all driver's licences that have been rescinded, whether by a decision of a Court, or by the accumulation of penalty points. However, there is no specific data which links those rescinded licences to fatal road accidents.