Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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494. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 350 of 10 February 2015, if she has received the information from An Garda Síochána; and when the information will be shared. [11874/15]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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498. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to subsequent communications and questions from this Deputy, if she will provide responses to outstanding parliamentary questions (details supplied); the reason for the long delay in providing the statistics requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11878/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 498 together.

I sought clarification in relation to the information requested and can confirm that I have recently replied directly to the Deputy in this regard.

For ease of reference, I can advise the Deputy that I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is extensive enforcement of driver licence legislation as provided for in the relevant provisions of the Road Traffic Acts. 20,315 prosecutions were brought against individuals in respect of driving without a licence in 2013 and 19,968 in 2014. I am also informed that 1,286 drivers were prosecuted in 2013 for driving while disqualified, with a further 1,373 prosecutions initiated in 2014.

In respect of disqualified drivers failing to submit a licence under section 29(16) and (17) of the Road Traffic Act, 2010, the position is that 5 such prosecutions were taken in 2014 and 1 to date in 2015. I am further advised that An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority are liaising as to how improvements can be made to the exchange of information with respect to the latter category of persons with a view to streamlining the bringing of prosecutions in this regard, in those circumstances where prosecution is feasible.

Insofar as Parliamentary Question Number 28 of 1 October, 2014 is concerned, I understand the Deputy directed the question to my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and to be of assistance I have brought the Deputy's query to his attention.