Written answers

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Traffic Offences

Photo of Sinéad GibneySinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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522. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps his Department is taking to tackle the use of mobile phones while driving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43073/25]

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, it is an offence to hold a mobile phone while driving a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place. While it is legally permissible speak on a mobile phone via a hands-free device, S.I. No. 178/2014 clarified that it is an offence to send or read text messages and emails even if a hands-free device is in use.

If an individual is detected by An Garda Síochána holding or physically interacting with a mobile phone while driving, the penalty is a fixed charge notice of €120 if paid within 28 days and 3 penalty points. The fixed charge increases to €180 after 28 days and again to €240 if not paid within 56 days, while the number of penalty points applied to a driver's licence can increase to 5 points in the event of an unsuccessful court challenge.

While my Department has responsibility for the Road Traffic Acts and associated regulations, enforcement is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána. As such, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration may be better placed to advise on steps being taken to reduce the use of mobile phones while driving.

Photo of Sinéad GibneySinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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523. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of people who received penalty points for use of a mobile phone while driving in the past three years, broken down by month, in tabular form. [43074/25]

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Penalty point data is sourced from the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF), which serves as the official record for driving licence, penalty point, and disqualification information. This data is electronically transmitted to the NVDF on a weekly basis by An Garda Síochána (AGS) and the Courts Service. It includes:

  • Offences arising from paid Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) issued by AGS
  • Offences resulting from court proceedings provided by the Courts Service
The table below presents the monthly breakdown of distinct driver records who received penalty point notices for the offence of 'Driving a Vehicle while Holding a Mobile Phone' during the years 2022, 2023, and 2024.
- 2022 2023 2024
January 1,412 1,125 1,245
February 1,437 1,322 1,352
March 1,387 1,514 1,416
April 1,350 1,479 1,872
May 1,913 1,935 1,925
June 1,497 1,425 1,825
July 1,342 1,665 1,926
August 1,528 1,235 1,659
September 1,204 1,270 1,985
October 1,358 1,772 1,619
November 1,633 1,418 1,773
December 1,163 1,418 1,506
Total 17,224 17,578 20,103

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