Written answers

Wednesday, 26 March 2025

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Traffic Offences

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will supply a breakdown of the number of drivers disqualified in court each year from 2020 to 2024; the number of those drivers who surrendered their licence to the Road Safety Authority’s national driver licence service PO box to have the conviction of disqualification endorsed on their driving licence record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14628/25]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The table below detail the number of court disqualifications notified to the Department in each of the years 2020-2024 and the details of those licences that were surrendered.

A notification of disqualification is issued by the Courts Service for drivers convicted of a court disqualification, the notification includes the requirement to surrender the driving licence or learner permit to the Road Safety Authority within 14 days of commencement of disqualification.

It is important to note that, while the non-surrender of licences is of concern, the more important issue from a road safety perspective is that the disqualification from driving is observed. The individuals in question are fully aware of the Court's decision and the disqualification from driving is in effect regardless of whether their licence is surrendered.

An Garda Síochána have access to data on the National Vehicle Driver File (NVDF) as part of their Mobility Strategy and therefore can detect and prosecute a driver who continues to drive while disqualified. This is the case whether or not a licence has been surrendered.

Years
Driver Disqualifications and Surrenders 2020-2024
Disqualifications Surrenders
2020 7,133 631
2021 8,503 634
2022 7,836 592
2023 8,996 763
2024 7,814 580

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of drivers disqualified in court each year from 2020 to 2024 who failed to comply with the requirement to surrender their licence to the Road Safety Authority and were summoned to court for failing to comply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14629/25]

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and through the separation of powers in the Constitution.

It should be noted that the Department does not record data relating to convictions, as this is a function of the courts.

The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie

To be of assistance I have referred the Deputy's question to the Courts Service for direct reply.

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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27. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will supply a breakdown of the number of learner drivers disqualified in court each year from 2020 to 2024; the number of those learner drivers who surrendered their learner permit to the Road Safety Authority’s national driver licence service PO box, as required by law, to have the conviction of the disqualification endorsed on their driving record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14630/25]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The table below details the number of court disqualifications notified to the Department in each of the years 2020-2024 and the details of those licences that were surrendered for learner permit licence holders.

A notification of disqualification is issued by the Courts Service for drivers convicted of a court disqualification, the notification includes the requirement to surrender the driving licence or learner permit to the Road Safety Authority within 14 days of commencement of disqualification.

It is important to note that, while the non-surrender of licences is of concern, the more important issue from a road safety perspective is that the disqualification from driving is observed. The individuals in question are fully aware of the Court's decision and the disqualification from driving is in effect regardless of whether their licence is surrendered.

An Garda Síochána have access to data on the National Vehicle Driver File (NVDF) as part of their Mobility Strategy and therefore can detect and prosecute a driver who continues to drive while disqualified. This is the case whether or not a licence has been surrendered.

Learner Permit Disqualifications and Surrenders 2020-2024
- Disqualifications Surrenders
2020 1,712 66
2021 2,040 43
2022 1,802 63
2023 2,006 78
2024 1,756 75

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