Written answers
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Road Traffic Offences
Sinéad 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]
Seán 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.
Sinéad 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]
Seán 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
- | 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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