Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of unaccompanied learner drivers that have been involved in fatal and serious collisions each year since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24162/12]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of unaccompanied learner drivers that have been convicted after being involved in a fatal or serious collision each years since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24163/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 389 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that 45 unaccompanied learner drivers were involved in a fatal collision and 74 were involved in a serious injury collision between 1 January 2009 and 14 May 2012. The following table provides a breakdown of the statistics by year:

*These statistics are provisional, operational and subject to change.

The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of statistics.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the information sought by the Deputy regarding the number of unaccompanied learner drivers that have been convicted after being involved in a fatal or serious collision each year since 2009 are not available. Information concerning summonses, convictions and fines with respect to unaccompanied learner drivers generally is set out in my response to the Deputy's Question No. 391 of today's date.