The Transport Minister is proposing an increase in penalty points for driving while on a mobile phone and for not wearing a seatbelt.

Leo Varadkar says the new points system should come into effect early next year following the publication of a new Road Safety Bill in the coming months.

Currently motorists receive 2 points for driving while on the phone and 2 for failure to wear a seatbelt if they opt not to go to court for the offence.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications met with representatives of the AA, Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Irish Insurance Federation last month to discuss a review of the penalty points system.

The penalty points system is a decade old this month.

The Minister says he will also propose an increase in points for speeding but that will only take place after a speed limit review around the country.

But he admits this may take longer to implement.

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