Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2020
755. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of learner drivers detected driving while unaccompanied under the Clancy amendment law since 22 December 2018; the number of learner drivers who had their vehicle seized under the Clancy amendment for driving unaccompanied by a qualified driver; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38859/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, also known as the Clancy Amendment, seeks to penalise car owners who knowingly allow their vehicles to be used by an unaccompanied learner driver. The law allows the owners of these vehicles to be fined and gives Gardaí the power to seize their cars if being driven by unaccompanied drivers.
I am informed that between 22 December 2018 and 19 November 2020, the number of incidents where a vehicle was seized under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, as well as the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued during the same period, is as follows:
- 11,919 FCNs have been issued for Learner Drivers Unaccompanied by a Qualified Driver since 22 December 2018.
- 5,448 incidents in which drivers have had their vehicles seized under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018 for driving unaccompanied by a qualified driver since 22 December 2018.
The Deputy will appreciate that the above information is based upon operational data from the PULSE and FCPS systems as was available on 20 November 2020 and is liable to change.
