Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in respect of the inspectorate of the road haulage section of his Department, he will report on the number of drivers found to be driving without an appropriate licence; the number of drivers found to have committed tachograph offences in each of the past five years; and the penalties imposed in each case. [15667/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The number of drivers who were found by the inspectorate in my Department to be driving vehicles that were not covered by a road freight carrier's licence in each of the past five years is as follows:

Regarding tachograph offences, the position is that my Department records information on the number of tachograph offences detected at the premises of operators and at checks on drivers at the roadside. The Department does not, however, maintain separate statistics on the number of drivers that are found to have committed tachograph offences. Invariably, individual drivers found to be in breach of the tachograph rules are found to have a number of such infringements. Details of the tachograph offences detected in respect of drivers in the past five years are set out in the following table.

The question of the fines actually imposed in each case with regard to vehicle licensing and tachograph offences is a matter for the courts. For a tachograph offence, the law provides for a maximum fine of €1,270 or six months imprisonment or both. In the case of illegal haulage, the maximum fine is €1,905 or six months imprisonment or both. Records of the fines actually imposed are retained by the courts.