Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the operation of the national vehicle driver file in Shannon; the information contained on each motorist on this; the other Departments, agencies or companies the information contained in the national vehicle driver file is shared with; the way he will reform the national vehicle driver file in view of problems of notification for National Car Test and non-endorsement of the licences of motorists who do not hold an Irish driving licence for motoring offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29059/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) contains details, including ownership data, on all 2.5 million registered vehicles and 2.6 million licensed drivers in the country and facilitates the processing of all motor tax and driving licence business from all motor tax outlets nationwide and through internet-based services.

The primary function of the NVDF is in supporting motor tax and driving licence services for some 900 users across all the main motor tax offices and other outlets (57 in total) as well as internet services supporting the extremely successful Online Motor Tax Service and the recently introduced facility whereby motor dealers may notify changes of vehicle ownership.

The NVDF contains personal data relating to drivers and vehicles which are highly sensitive and confidential and consequently extreme caution is applied in relation to the release of data to other parties.

There are significant legal obligations in relation to information security and the release of NVDF data — the Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003 which cover the confidentiality of 'personal' data on the NVDF and the Finance Acts, which provide the legal basis for the NVDF and for access to the NVDF data.

Section 60 of the Finance Act, 1993, as amended provides for access to NVDF data by Government Departments, licensing (motor tax) authorities in Ireland and other Member States of the EU, the Revenue Commissioners, the Garda and such other persons as may be prescribed.

The following are prescribed for the purposes of Section 60 of the Finance 1993 to receive NVDF data including personal information; Local Authorities; Road Safety Authority, National Car Testing Services, Motor Importers and Distributors (vehicle recalls), Motor Insurance Bureau, An Post, Eirtrade Services Ltd. and motor insurers. There are also agencies such as The Private Security Authority, the Pensions Ombudsman, the National Employment Rights Authority and road toll operators who may receive NVDF data through their own legislative frameworks. There are also arrangements in place to supply vehicle data without personal details to Auto Records Ltd., T/A Cartell, The Society of the Irish Motor Industry, insurers, MoneyMate and Aspen Connect.

Driver File (NVDF) is supplied to NCTS to assist with the operations of that company in relation to the testing of private cars. The data are provided on the basis of an annual electronic file extracted from the NVDF containing details of vehicles which will be subject to testing in the following year, followed by periodic updates to reflect subsequent changes including changes of vehicle ownership. All aspects relating to the day-to-day operation of the car testing service including the issuing of test reminders is a matter for NCTS. I understand however that NVDF data quality is not the reason for NCTS not issuing reminders to vehicle owners prior to test due date. Insofar as NVDF/NCT electronic interface is concerned, necessary adjustments to the NVDF computer programs to improve and streamline the data transfer arrangements generally have been made. Comprehensive user testing is currently in progress and the new software will be released into the live environment as soon as possible. I am fully satisfied that there are no underlying problems with quality of data on the NVDF.

As I have previously stated enforcing penalties for road traffic offences on foreign registered drivers raises many legal, organisational and procedural issues, which make it very difficult for any one State to enforce such penalties. For that reason, my Department is pursuing this question at European, British-Irish and North-South levels where mutual recognition and cross-border enforcement possibilities are under consideration with significant progress being made recently with agreement on the mutual recognition of driver disqualifications. As foreign licence holders do not have an Irish driving licence record is it not possible to record them on the NVDF and it is clear that the best way forward is for mutual recognition frameworks whereby details of offences are 'homed' to the country of the licence holder.