The new Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, is to be commended for seeking to speed up the introduction of a penalty-points system for Irish motorists which was first promised as a road-safety measure in 1998. Mr Brennan is, no doubt, anxious to make progress.
But so was his predecessor, Mr Dempsey, and nothing came of it. Interdepartmental disputes over funding for new computer systems have bedevilled this project. Last year, it was finally agreed that the estimated €11 million required should be provided over a two-year period, with an extra €7 million being provided by the Department of Finance and €4 million coming from the Garda Síochána budget.
The bulk of that money, which is required to allow the Garda and Court Services computers "talk" to each other, will not be allocated until next year. Because of that, Mr Brennan's ambition to have the new system up and running by next September is unrealistic. Senior gardai suggest that a more practical target for its introduction would be late in 2003.
The introduction of a penalty-points system is just one of the major problems facing the Transport Minister. Another involves the Government's commitment to establish a dedicated Traffic Corps, with its own staff and a ring-fenced budget, before the end of this year. Such an initiative is urgently required, given the demonstrable failure of the Garda Síochána to enforce existing traffic laws on a comprehensive basis.
In the current economic climate, however, with the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, seeking reductions in departmental spending, money for the new Traffic Corps is unlikely to be forthcoming. And because dedicated traffic units from within the Garda Síochána are expected to form the nucleus of the new Corps, a whole range of industrial relations problems may arise. Delays and obstruction can almost be guaranteed.
Other issues that need to be urgently addressed include the installation of a greater number of speed cameras and the failure of the Court Services to collect a high percentage of motoring fines. There is no point in successful prosecutions if the penalties imposed are not exacted from the offenders.