Funding for computer facilities to implement the road traffic penalty points system is a matter for the Department of Justice, according to the Minister for the Environment.

"It has always been a matter for that department and that is where the funding will emanate," Mr Dempsey insisted.

He believed greater enforcement of traffic legislation was necessary and he favoured the establishment of a Garda traffic corps.He told Labour's environment spokesman, Mr Eamon Gilmore, that his "latest information" was that the penalty points system would be in operation by October.

Ms Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael's local government spokeswoman, said it could not be introduced by then. She believed there would have been a financial return within six months because serious accidents would have been reduced.

Mr Dempsey cautioned against the idea that "everything will be all right the minute the system is introduced".