Written answers
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
Road Traffic Offences
Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1586. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for driving licence restoration granted in each calendar year from 2010 to date in 2025, as recorded on An Garda Síochána's Pulse database and Courts Service database, in tabular form and on a county by county basis [19859/25]
Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1588. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality each year from 2010 to date in 2025, of the successful applications for driving licence restorations recorded on An Garda Síochána's Pulse database and Courts Service database, the number of cases in which the applicant had received a second or additional disqualification order of two years or more within the ten years prior to their application for driving licence restoration. [19861/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1586 and 1588 together.
I have endeavoured to provide the Deputy with an answer by seeking the relevant information from An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service.
I am informed by Garda management that An Garda Síochána are not responsible for the disqualification or restoration of driving licences.
Someone who has been disqualified from driving can apply for their driving licence to be restored through the District Court where the order to disqualify was made. The licence will not be restored if the disqualification is for two years or less or if the person has been given another disqualification in the past ten years. When a court is considering an application for the restoration of a driving licence it will look at the nature of the offence, the character of the applicant, and the conduct of the applicant after conviction.
I am further informed by the Courts Service that currently the Courts Service case management systems in the District and Circuit Courts do not cater for the restoration of driving licences. Court offices record restorations of driving licences manually. Aa a result, at this time they are unable to produce a report outlining this information.
As part of the Courts Service Modernisation programme, the current criminal case management systems will be replaced with new systems offering additional functionality and reports. This new system is planned for 2026 and it is hoped that this data will be available in the coming years.
Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1587. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of driving licence disqualifications that were granted in each calendar year from 2010 to date in 2025, as recorded on An Garda Síochána's Pulse database and Courts Service database, in tabular form and on a county by county basis [19860/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I have endeavoured to provide the deputy with an answer to their question by seeking the relevant information from An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service.
I am informed by Garda management that An Garda Síochána are not responsible for Drivers Licence disqualification or restoration and that they do not hold this data.
Management of the courts, 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 given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
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 to the Deputy I have referred this question to the Courts Service for direct reply.
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