Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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168. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 438 and 439 of 16 June 2015, regarding the payment of fixed-charge penalty point notices, if the information is now available; if it will be forwarded to this Deputy's office before the summer recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29393/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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For ease of reference, the information sought by the Deputy was 'for the years 2013 to date in 2015, based on District Court areas, by year, the number of drivers that paid their fixed charge penalty point notices within the 56 days provided; of those who paid, the number that had the penalty points applied to their licences; and the report on current procedure for processing payment of fixed charge penalty point notices when the licence number is not included or is incorrect; if in these cases the notice is returned or accepted when the correct payment is within the required 56 days; the number of FCPN fines paid in the correct timeframe but no penalty points were applied in 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; and if I will make a statement on these matters.

As the Deputy will be aware, Fixed Charge Notices are issued by An Garda Síochána and I am advised that payment is recorded centrally and not by reference to District Court Area. The total number of Fixed Charge Notices, relating to penalty point offences, paid during the periods in question was 197,344 (2013), 226,238 (2014) and 84,288 (Jan to 22 May 2015). These figures are provisional, and do not include Fixed Charge Notices relating to offences other that those to which penalty points apply.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that payment of any Fixed Change Notice is not accepted without the correct driving licence details. Where an individual elects to pay their Fixed Charge Notice in a Post Office and they do not present a driving licence or provide incorrect licence details, the payment will be refused. Where a Fixed Charge Notice is paid by Billpost and the driver licence details are inaccurately completed or omitted, payment is rejected and returned, along with the original Fixed Charge Notice. In both of these circumstances, the Fixed Charge Notice remains effective and if not paid together with correct driving licence details, will result in a summons being issued for the original offence.