Garda fined motorists between 540 and 350 times per year in the last four years across Ireland with a wide regional variance including figures which were so low in one region that the data was merged with another because it was claimed the low figures would have data protection implications.The data was released in reply to a parliamentary question from Waterford based TD Marc Cathasaigh (Green Party).Across the country 539 motorists were given fines for parking on cycle lanes in 2020, while there were 350 fined in 2021, 477 in 2022, and 531 in 2023.The Dublin Metropolitan Region had the most fines ranging from 375 to just over 250 per year.Offices in the Southern Region issued fines ranged from 58 to 233 per year. The region includes Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Tipperary, and Clare.While because there are Figures [of] less than 10 in one Garda region, the data for the Eastern and North Western Regions was amalgamated for data protection reasons.The combined data ranged from 37 to 75 per year across 14 counties including all of Connacht, all of Leinster except Dublin, as well as Donegal, Cavan and Waterford.Commenting on the figures, Deputy Cathasaigh said: We see a certain element of car-blindness when it comes to policing of our public spaces. Pavement parking or parking in cycle lanes is often disregarded as minor infractions. In reality, it has the impact of pushing vulnerable road users out into traffic. This can be a daily occurrence in many areas I could point to Manor Street in Waterford where there has been a persistent issue, with the cycle lane at times completely obstructed by parked cars.This undermines the cycle network as a whole unless our less confident cyclists feel that they can get from A to B along safe, fully segregated cycle infrastructure, were not going to see the kind of dramatic modal shift weve seen in places like Paris, he said.He added: I would hope that as the new directive to Garda to devote 30 mins per day to roads policing will make a difference with respect to the enforcement of cycle lanes.The written parliamentary reply from the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, said: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters. I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised of the below.The Department of Justice said that the data on Fixed Charge Notices issued for parking on a cycle lane is from the Fixed Charge Processing System and are operational and subject to change.Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, at the start of 2022, increased the fines for parking in cycle tracks as well as on footpaths and in bus lanes from 40 to 80. There was no clear increase and some regional decreases in enforcement since then.Regions2020202120222023Dublin Region375251316261Eastern and North Western Regions*58417537Southern Region1065886233Grand Total539350477531* Figures less than 10 have been amalgamated for data protection reasons.The Parliamentary reply from the Minister said: An Garda Sochna has further advised that they are not in a position to report on accurate totals of penalty points issued, as penalty points can be issued in a judgment of a relevant Court on conviction for an offence.The reply added: As the Deputy will appreciate, the management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution.The data also does not include where parking on footpaths is fined instead of on the cycle lanes or where parking on cycle tracks is fined under the offence of dangerous parking.