Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
655. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 18 November 2025, to clarify his statement that ‘the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility in relation to the endorsement of penalty points to driver records’. [1133/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile responsibility in relation to the endorsement of penalty points and driver disqualifications is jointly shared by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and my Department under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Department maintains the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database, which is the State’s record of all Irish licensed drivers.
The Department’s role is to manage the database, including adding of penalty points and disqualifications to driver records based on information provided from the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána. The RSA operates the licensing process, which links to the NVDF, and the Authority also supports my Department in matching of penalty points disqualifications NVDF records, which was the specific topic being queried in Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 18 November 2025.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department is now developing alternative proposals for reform of the RSA while retaining the current overall structure of the Authority. Having considered the recommendations of the 2024 Indecon review of the RSA, Minister O’Brien and I have decided not to replace the RSA by the creation of two new entities. However, we are strongly of the view that change is still needed and that reform of the RSA remains necessary. Updated reform proposals, including in relation to administration of the penalty points system, will be informed by the findings of the Indecon review and will also take into account experience over the last year. I expect that these proposals will be brought to Government in the coming months.
