Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if drivers who have been convicted of road traffic offences and are required to hand over their licence to the Courts Services are now doing so; the number of licences that have been handed over to the Courts Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54410/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As I previously advised the Deputy, the Courts Service has put in place arrangements to ensure that summonses issued since May 2012 include wording to advise persons charged with an offence under the Road Traffic Acts to bring their driving licence together with a photocopy of the licence when they are attending court. I am informed that the Courts Service has communicated with the judiciary to facilitate an arrangement that defendants who appear before the court are requested in court to produce their driving licence and a copy thereof to the court registrar for the purpose of having the driving licence number recorded. Additionally, Registrars have been requested to record whether or not the licence or a copy thereof was produced to the court.

The Courts Service has indicated that in the period 1 September 2012 to 15 November 2012 a total of 1510 driving licence numbers were recorded arising from convictions for penalty point offences. As I previously indicated, I have asked the Courts Service to furnish a report to me on this matter. I am informed that the report is currently being prepared by the Service. I expect to receive the report shortly and I will arrange to forward further details to the Deputy at that time.