Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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136. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a likelihood that learner drivers have been going under the radar of the RSA and being issued with a second, third or subsequent learner permit by the RSA even when they have accumulated the maximum seven penalty points and should be disqualified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41300/20]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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A learner driver who is disqualified from driving receives written notice to this effect, together with the start and end date of the period of disqualification.

When someone's learner permit expires during a period of disqualification, the disqualification freezes, and restarts again when the learner permit is renewed.  Once a learner permit has expired, the permit holder is disqualified from being on the roads in any case.

Once the learner renews their permit, the period of disqualification resumes.

The important point to note is that the learner is disqualified from driving, whether they are in physical possession of a licence or not.