Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of comments by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in 2015 regarding software costing €6.5 million that had been purchased and was to be ready in late 2016 to help prove delivery of fixed charge notices; the status of this software; if it is in use; the parameters of this software; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22490/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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43. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of issuing fixed charge notices in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the estimated cost of issuing fixed charge notices by registered post based on the numbers issued in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22489/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 43 together.

In so far as Question 35 is concerned, I am happy to report that the primary legislation necessary to underpin the third payment option from a technical perspective, the Courts (No. 2) Bill 2016, completed its passage in the Seanad yesterday, 10 May 2017 and has now concluded its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas. Following the signature of the new legislation by the President, a commencement order will be made to commence this legislation on 1 June 2017 along with the commencement of the third payment option itself via the commencement of Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, as amended. The implementation of the third payment option has involved ongoing collaboration between a number of key stakeholders - An Garda Síochána, Courts Service, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and my Department - and will be the culmination of a number of years work. The project has been overseen by the Criminal Justice (Fixed Charge Processing System) Working Group, jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and has been a standing agenda item at the Working Group's meetings.

It is anticipated that the commencement of the third payment option will lead to a further increase in fixed charge amount payment rates, as a result of the provision of an additional/third opportunity to pay the fixed charge amount. In addition, the commencement of Section 38 of the 2010 Act on 1 June 2017 as part of the suite of fixed charge offences/FCN provisions for commencement under Part 3 of the 2010 Act, will provide that FCN service can be exercised by posting the FCN to the alleged offender. In addition, certain presumptions have also been provided for, where the matter proceeds before the Courts, allowing for evidence of postage to be provided by An Post (or another post provider) to assist the presiding judge to challenge oral evidence whereby the accused claims not to have received the FCN in the post. The introduction of the third payment option is also expected to impact on summons service by bringing about a reduction in the volume of road traffic offence cases proceeding to court.

In tandem with the third payment option, I can also inform the Deputy that work is underway in Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to progress the Master Licence Record (MLR) project, which will entail linking the vehicle and driving licence database of the National Vehicle Driver File. The project will facilitate the application of penalty points to driving licences, thereby improving the effectiveness of road traffic enforcement measures. To enable the MLR, multiple system and process changes will need to be implemented across a number of organisations, including the Courts Service, which will take some time to design and develop. The Working Group is also responsible for monitoring and overseeing progress on the MLR project and the provision of a progress report on the Master Licence Record project is a standing agenda item at the Group's meetings.

I have requested a Garda report on the matters referred to in the Deputy's Question 43 and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.