Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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246. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will legislate to make illegal littering and dumping an offence under the Road Traffic Acts in order to allow gardaí impose penalty points on individuals who use their vehicles for such offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4900/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The penalty points system was introduced, in 2002, with the specific aim of targeting and discouraging dangerous driving behaviour. Penalty points are applied to offences under the Road Traffic Acts which involve moving traffic. The system does not apply to other road traffic offences, such as parking offences, with the sole exception of dangerous parking. Penalty points are applied to this offence specifically because a dangerously parked vehicle could pose a danger to moving traffic.

Various proposals have been made over the years to apply the penalty points system to non-road-traffic offences, including illegal dumping. It would be inappropriate to use the penalty points system for matters unrelated to road safety, and for that reason no such proposed extensions of the system have been entertained.

Penalties for littering and Illegal dumping are provided for in the appropriate legislation.