John Paul O'Shea
Question:198. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport when the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27771/26]
View answerThursday, 16 April 2026
Questions (198)
Written answers
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 Bill is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
The provisions included in this 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, amend the Road Traffic Act 2004 to allow for a speed limit of 60 km/h on local roads within built-up areas, and amend the Roads Act 1993 to provide a basis for the direct sharing of road traffic collision data with local authorities.
On 16 December 2025, Cabinet approved the inclusion of additional Heads for drafting. Two of the additional provisions were agreed with the Minister for Justice at the time of approving the General Scheme in April and will allow a jury to consider a charge of careless driving when a driver is acquitted of dangerous driving and allow safety camera van operators to provide certificate evidence in court.
Two additional provisions relate to the Road Traffic Act 2024. One is a technical amendment to local authority speed limit bye-law setting powers on national secondary roads and the other provides additional legislative clarity around how multiple penalty points from a single incident are to be applied to serve as a stronger deterrent to dangerous driving.
A further provision relates to the new CheckMyVehicle website, which will facilitate parties who might need to be assured of compliance, such as driver testers, driving instructors or car buyers, once the requirement to display a motor tax disc is removed.
The additional provisions were intended to be introduced at Committee Stage but, having now received Government approval, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel will draft the provisions alongside the existing General Scheme in order to expedite its enactment.