Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on her Department's collaboration with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and the Courts Service on rectifying the many discrepancies in the enforcement of our road safety laws, given the continuing number of loopholes discovered in summer 2015, along with the low number of convictions of penalty points offences for drivers who were summonsed to court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35204/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has developed a multi-agency approach to road safety through the involvement of a number of agencies working in partnership. While significant efforts are devoted to addressing the issues referred to by the Deputy, it is important to note that the system of fixed charge notices and penalty points have formed a key part in Ireland's Road Safety Strategy for several years, have gained widespread acceptance, and contributed to enforcement and reduced road fatalities. The system represents an efficient means of dealing with road traffic infringements with most fixed charges being paid without recourse to court, and an approximate payment rate of nearly 80% in 2014.

The systems involved are, however, large and complex ones requiring continuous attention and development. The issues of concern referred to by the Deputy are being addressed by the Criminal Justice Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) Working Group on a number of fronts. These include the project which is underway to introduce a '3rd Payment Option' whereby a person served with a summons would have a final opportunity to pay the penalty and receive the points without attending Court. The IT project to give effect to this facility is due for completion in July 2016.

In addition, a working group has been established by the Garda Síochána to actively examine how the rate of summons serving can be improved and to regularly monitor the level of summons service throughout the country, as well as to consider longer term solutions with a view to improving service of summonses generally. This group has reported improvements in the rate of successful service of summonses. As the Deputy will be aware there are long-standing challenges with effecting service of summons in certain circumstances, relating to such matters as inaccurate address data, persons moving address, or living in multi-occupancy dwellings or other settings which make service difficult. In addition, certain persons will take steps to evade service. Similar difficulties are experienced by many other police forces.

Further short term steps have been undertaken to improve enforcement of penalty point matters in the Courts. These include:

- A range of prosecutions are being brought for the non-production of driving licences in Court, with a view to ensuring that penalty points are applied whenever a conviction is recorded. The outcome of these prosecutions and their impact will be assessed, including in relation to the most efficient means of bring such prosecutions on an ongoing basis.

- A pilot project is underway to allow 2 Dublin courtrooms electronic access to the National Vehicle Driver File (NVDF) to check driving licences where a person found guilty of a penalty point offence does not produce their driving licence to the Court. Again this will assist in ensuring that penalty points are applied where convictions are recorded.

One longer term measure also under consideration is a project which will associate vehicle and driver records in order to achieve optimum penalty point endorsement as well as other benefits. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I received an update recently in relation to the development of this project and hope to be in a position to provide further information in this regard in the near future.

In conclusion, I can assure the Deputy that there is ongoing liaison between all of the stakeholders involved at an operational level with a view to addressing the above issues and any other matters that arise, including in the development of road traffic legislation.