Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
346. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the reason the offence of 'failure to obey traffic rules at railway level crossing' only incurs two penalty points while 'failure to obey traffic lights' incurs three penalty points; and if he will consider increasing the former to match the latter. [9512/26]
View answerAs Minister of State with responsibility for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that, while the penalty point values for railway crossing and traffic light offences were both originally set at two points with the introduction of penalty points in 2002, a decision was taken in 2014 to increase the latter to three points. This decision was taken on foot of a review of the penalty point system conducted by this Department, and examined by the relevant Oireachtas committee, in 2012.
I can confirm that my Department has no immediate plans to adjust the penalty currently attached to the railway crossing traffic offences, but is happy to consider the matter further should concerns be raised by Irish Rail or by An Garda Síochána.
