Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
126. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the drafting of the National Vehicle Driver File Bill 2025; to provide a timeline for when local authorities will have access to relevant data on road traffic collisions to inform road improvements and to expand real time data access for An Garda Síochána to driver and vehicle information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2786/26]
View answerCollision data are collected by members of An Garda Síochána at the scene of road traffic accidents. These data were previously shared with local authorities, to enable them to identify locations of interest (accident blackspots) that would benefit from safety improvements. Due to the presence of personal information in the data, legal advice related to GDPR has meant that local authorities have stopped receiving collision data since November 2023. As an interim measure, the Department of Transport has been undertaking detailed collision analysis on the regional and local road network to identify locations of interest. When locations of interest are identified, the Department notifies the affected local authority. In turn, local authorities can apply for funding of low-cost safety schemes for these locations of interest.
The General Scheme of the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025 has been approved by Government and is with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. The passage of this Bill is a Programme for Government commitment and will amend the Roads Act 1993 to provide a basis for the resumption of direct sharing of road traffic collision data with local authorities.
Other provisions included in the General Scheme improve the legislative basis underpinning the National Vehicle and Driver File, remove the requirement to display a paper motor tax disc, allow for open-ended declarations of non-use of a motor vehicle and amend the Road Traffic Act 2004 to allow for a speed limit of 60km/h on local roads within built-up areas. Additional Heads of Bill subsequently considered and approved by Government last December will, among other provisions, allow a jury to consider a lesser charge of careless driving where an individual is acquitted of dangerous driving, as recommended by Judge Haughton in his report on the death of Shane O'Farrell.
In relation to the expansion of real time data access for An Garda Síochána, it should be noted that, in practice, An Garda Síochána already have real time data access with the deployment of the Traffic app and that the relevant provisions of the Bill are intended to underpin current policy and procedures. The Bill strengthens the provisions of the Finance Act 1993 in relation to access to vehicle and driver data by An Garda Síochána and other bodies, updating the Act, which is pre-GDPR, to bring it in line with current data protection principles. The Bill provides for the making of data sharing agreements with those bodies, as well as providing for limitations on the access to, and use of data both internally in the Department and by those with whom the data is shared.
Enactment of the Bill is targeted for the first half of 2026.
