Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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412. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if An Garda Síochána have limited access to data on the National Vehicle and Driver File regarding disqualified drivers; if they have access to data which informs them of the date when a disqualification ends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59659/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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An Garda Síochána have had access to the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database for many years and have used NVDF data at the roadside using their mobility app for at least three years. Since then, they have been able to detect disqualified drivers at the roadside. Since the middle of this year my Department has begun sending a timelier (every 24 hour) file and with some additional data.

I can confirm that An Garda Síochána have access to information regarding disqualified drivers on the NVDF including the disqualification status, the start date and the type of disqualification. There are three types of disqualification that can be imposed on drivers and An Garda Síochána get detailed information on all three types. These are Court Service disqualifications that are the automatic result of certain offences detected by Gardaí and Penalty Point disqualifications which are incurred when points exceed the relevant threshold. For the first two types (Court Service disqualifications and Garda automatic disqualifications) a specific disqualification end date is available to Gardaí from the NVDF. For Penalty Point Disqualifications Gardaí are provided with the balance of days remaining on the disqualification. This is because the disqualification will end when enough penalty points expire to bring the driver below the threshold for disqualification. Penalty points have a life span of three years but this can be paused in certain circumstances such as if a driver's licence expires.

The technology used to deploy this information and make it available to front line Garda members is a matter for An Garda Síochána.