Penalty Points System

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

Ceisteanna (154)

Emer Currie

Ceist:

154. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 25 November 2025 the name of the foreign licence record file created on his Department's national vehicle and driver file (NVDF) on receipt of a penalty point offence where a foreign licence number is supplied; the number of foreign licence holders held on this record file; the procedure when a foreign licence number is not supplied; and if Gardaí have instant access to real-time and complete data held on this foreign licence record file on the NVDF via their mobility device at roadside checkpoints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68131/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that Foreign Licence details are populated when a foreign licence is exchanged for an Irish licence or when an offence occurs and a foreign licence is presented. Foreign Licence details are held in a Foreign Licence table on the NVDF. Where the foreign licence is captured as part of a penalty point offence, the foreign licence number also held against the individual offence. There are currently 52, 804 foreign licence records on the NVDF that were captured as part of an offence.

If a foreign licence is presented when an offence occurs, and that foreign licence number does not match an existing exchanged foreign licence, this results in a ‘shell’ record as the NVDF is the database of record for Irish Licence Holders. That ‘shell ‘record will contain the foreign licence number if available in order to match to other any other offences committed by this driver.

My Department supply An Garda Siochána (AGS) with complete data from this foreign licence table every 24 hours and this is available for use it on their mobility devices.