Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

There are enormous anomalies with the national vehicle and driver file, NVDF. It is a database of national strategic importance as it contains details of the 2.4 million registered vehicles and 2.5 million licensed drivers in the State. It is critical to the management of the national motor tax and driver licence services, including the optimisation of services for the motoring public.

Recent disturbing reports in the media have highlighted the impact of uninsured drivers on road deaths and safety. The Irish Times recently reported 1,351 vehicles recorded as written off on the NVDF, were back on the road. Has the Department of Transport led investigation into this matter been concluded? If so, what recommendations were made?

Will the Government introduce a new non-national driver file to maintain a record of penalty points for those producing foreign driving licences following motoring offences? I am concerned about the type of accountability that will arise in the building of non-national roads. Will the Minister clarify who will be accountable if problems emerge in their construction?

With the amount of funding being transferred to the Department, I am disappointed the Minister did not address local government funding. Many reports have been published on local authorities but there has been no reform. City and council councillors believe they do not have much responsibility as it all lies with county and city managers. The National Roads Authority will not be as sympathetic as the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the pleadings of local government. It is worrying that the NRA is not accountable to this House and does not reply to parliamentary questions about funding for various projects. Does the Minister plan to reform the way in which it engages with Deputies and councillors?

Although significant progress is being made on our national roads in my constituency of Dublin North-East there are some bad roads with severe potholes such as the stretch of the Howth Road from Sutton Cross to Howth. I have reservations about the transfer of responsibilities to the Department of Transport but I hope I may be proven wrong.

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