Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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555. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 9 May 2017, the number of persons that paid a fixed charge notice for driving while holding a mobile phone within the 56 day limit in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017; if the Garda report is now to hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47062/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, my response to the Deputy's parliamentary question number 525 of 26 July 2017 detailed the number of Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) issued in respect of persons detected for driving while holding a mobile phone; the total number of FCNs paid; the total number of unpaid FCNs forwarded to the Courts Service for summons; and additional FCN statistical breakdowns; for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 to 30 June 2017. I have requested a Garda report on the most recent statistics available for 2017, and will be in contact directly with the Deputy immediately on receipt of the Garda report.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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556. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 138 of 21 March 2017 and 469 of 26 July 2017, the number of persons that paid the fixed charge notice within the time limit; the number of persons that were summonsed to court for failing to pay the fixed charge notice; the number of persons that were convicted; the number of driver licence numbers recorded on conviction; if this report is now to hand; and if he will make a statement of the matter. [47063/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The position in relation to conviction statistics has already been clarified to the Deputy in the responses to parliamentary question numbers 138 of 21 March 2017 and 469 of 26 July 2017, namely the Courts Service is not in a position to match the prosecutions specified in the Deputy's question to court results. It follows that it is similarly not possible to ascertain the number of driver licence numbers recorded for the offence referred to in the question, where the offence specified results in a conviction.

A report has again been requested from the Garda authorities in relation to statistics on drivers detected with blood alcohol content levels of between 50mg and 80mg for the years in question and I can assure the Deputy that I will provide this information directly on receipt of a Garda report.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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557. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 164 of 28 February 2017 and 522 of 26 July 2017, the number of vehicles seized to date; the number of those vehicles seized that were scrapped; the number of persons arrested and charged to date in 2017; if the report is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47064/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in May 2015, a road safety initiative was put in place by the Dublin Metropolitan Region Traffic Division to tackle “distracted” driving caused by illegally erected signage in public places which is an offence under the Roads Act 1993. This initiative was expanded in September 2015 to include the illegal parking on public roads of vehicles for sale which is also an offence under the Roads Act, 1993. I can confirm that, as part of this operation, 14 vehicles were impounded, which, on payment of the appropriate towing and storage fees, were returned to their owners.

I am further informed that over 600 signs have been removed in the Dublin Metropolitan area with one individual convicted in September 2016 before the District Court for illegally posting signs on public roads advertising, “Cash for Cars”. 

I am advised that there has been a significant reduction in the number of persons posting “Cash for Cars” posters and stickers.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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558. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 37 to 39, inclusive, of 11 May 2017 and 527 of 26 July 2017, the number of speeding fixed charge notices issued by a company (details supplied) that progressed to court annually; the number of speeding fixed charge notices issued by the company's speed vans that progressed to conviction in court annually; if the report on the fixed charge notices is now available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47065/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The position in relation to courts data has already been clarified to the Deputy in the responses to parliamentary question numbers 37-39 of 11 May 2017 and 527 of 26 July 2017, namely that the Courts Service is not in a position to provide the courts data requested in the Deputy's questions, as Courts Service systems cannot differentiate between "Speed Vans" operated by the named company and those operated by An Garda Síochána. 

I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to the Fixed Charge Notice (FCN) statistics requested by the Deputy and I can assure the Deputy that I will make contact directly on receipt of a Garda report.

The Deputy's reference to a report on FCNs is taken to refer to An Garda Síochána's internal examination of the Garda errors associated with FCNs and road traffic summonses that came to light in March this year. As the Deputy is already aware, this report was published by An Garda Síochána in September 2017.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Policing Authority published the report of the independent review it commissioned into FCNs and summonses issues on 1 November 2017.