As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4 (3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the information requested is provided in the following tables. I am informed that where a person is convicted and disqualified for an offence, details of the disqualification imposed including the driver licence number, where recorded, are sent to the National Driver Licence Service. Where the person is convicted of a penalty point offence, details of the conviction imposed including a driver licence number, where recorded, are sent to the National Vehicle and Driver File for the application of penalty points as appropriate. However, where a person is convicted of a penalty point offence and is disqualified from driving, details of the conviction are not sent to the National Vehicle and Driver File but rather are notified to the National Driver Licence Service.
It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act to fail to provide your licence details and, as I have recently advised the Deputy, an arrangement has been put in place between An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service to facilitate the bringing of prosecutions for the non-production of a driver licence in these circumstances. An Garda Síochána will shortly commence prosecutions at multiple locations nationwide, targeting persons not presenting their licences in Court.
I expect this will send a strong message that it is essential that our Road Traffic laws are respected and that there are consequences for the minority of persons who seek to evade them. Ultimately enforcement and prosecution of offences in this area is about improving public safety and reducing deaths on our roads, and there must be no way out for anybody seeking to avoid receiving penalty points.
I can further advise the Deputy that my Department is in ongoing and intensive contact with the other relevant agencies with a view to ensuring that the most effective system to associate penalty points with driver licences is in place. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I have recently received an update from the Criminal Justice (Fixed Charge Processing System) Working Group on this matter and we have asked that further urgent consideration be given to this specific issue with a view to more detailed analysis being submitted later this year. In addition to assessing the impact of the prosecutions referred to above, this analysis will consider other means of addressing this issue, including an examination of the feasibility and means of introducing a mandatory association between driver licence details and vehicle registrations.
Court Area
|
No. of Persons Convicted Under Road Traffic Act
|
No. of Persons convicted under RTA where Driver Number has been recorded
|
No. of Persons convicted of Penalty Point Offence and where Driver Number has been recorded
|
ABBEYFEALE
|
63
|
8
|
5
|
ACAILL
|
7
|
1
|
0
|
ARDEE
|
83
|
11
|
6
|
ARKLOW
|
235
|
28
|
22
|
ATHLONE
|
314
|
152
|
91
|
ATHY
|
98
|
17
|
12
|
BALLINA
|
59
|
8
|
3
|
BALTINGLASS
|
62
|
6
|
0
|
BANDON
|
184
|
57
|
26
|
BALLYCONNELL & SWANLINBAR
|
18
|
7
|
4
|
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD
|
33
|
4
|
2
|
BIRR
|
68
|
18
|
6
|
BALLINASLOE
|
265
|
53
|
31
|
BALLAGHADERREEN
|
80
|
12
|
6
|
BALLYHAUNIS
|
15
|
2
|
1
|
BALLYSHANNON
|
68
|
9
|
7
|
BANTRY
|
94
|
26
|
10
|
BRAY
|
540
|
84
|
48
|
BUNCRANA
|
91
|
25
|
13
|
CAHIRCIVEEN
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
CARLOW
|
286
|
47
|
23
|
CASHEL
|
148
|
19
|
14
|
CAVAN
|
206
|
46
|
22
|
CASTLEBAR
|
141
|
28
|
19
|
CLIFDEN
|
29
|
5
|
2
|
CLONMEL
|
154
|
23
|
14
|
CLONES
|
21
|
1
|
0
|
CLONAKILTY
|
160
|
54
|
25
|
CORK CITY
|
2,461
|
566
|
326
|
CARRICK ON SHANNON
|
164
|
24
|
15
|
CARRICKMACROSS
|
146
|
21
|
13
|
CARNDONAGH
|
64
|
22
|
16
|
CARRICK ON SUIR
|
67
|
14
|
3
|
CASTLEREA
|
64
|
22
|
16
|
AN DAINGEAN
|
13
|
5
|
0
|
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
|
9,792
|
4,416
|
3,378
|
DUNGARVAN
|
139
|
34
|
22
|
DONEGAL
|
63
|
6
|
2
|
DROGHEDA
|
331
|
53
|
32
|
DOIRE AN FHEICH
|
62
|
7
|
6
|
DUNDALK
|
307
|
33
|
17
|
AN CLOCHAN LIATH
|
47
|
5
|
1
|
EDENDERRY
|
75
|
14
|
5
|
ENNIS
|
770
|
184
|
121
|
AN FAL CARRACH
|
31
|
8
|
2
|
FERMOY
|
229
|
57
|
35
|
GALWAY
|
779
|
142
|
91
|
NA GLEANNTA
|
43
|
6
|
3
|
GORT
|
63
|
12
|
4
|
GOREY
|
465
|
215
|
148
|
KELLS
|
102
|
13
|
7
|
KENMARE
|
25
|
|
0
|
KILLALOE
|
84
|
22
|
15
|
CILL RONAIN
|
2
|
|
|
KINSALE
|
96
|
34
|
15
|
KILCOCK
|
197
|
19
|
14
|
KILKENNY
|
511
|
85
|
49
|
KILLORGLIN
|
12
|
1
|
0
|
KILRUSH
|
97
|
20
|
10
|
KILLARNEY
|
107
|
18
|
12
|
LETTERKENNY
|
323
|
72
|
41
|
LIMERICK
|
2,367
|
215
|
139
|
LISMORE
|
53
|
11
|
6
|
LISTOWEL
|
91
|
12
|
5
|
LONGFORD
|
351
|
153
|
101
|
LOUGHREA
|
159
|
39
|
30
|
MACROOM
|
208
|
80
|
54
|
MALLOW
|
548
|
95
|
55
|
MANORHAMILTON
|
12
|
|
0
|
MIDLETON
|
464
|
135
|
102
|
MONAGHAN
|
123
|
19
|
7
|
MULLINGAR
|
336
|
153
|
95
|
NAAS
|
768
|
113
|
74
|
NENAGH
|
181
|
23
|
12
|
NEWCASTLE WEST
|
438
|
57
|
35
|
NAVAN
|
280
|
47
|
31
|
PORTLAOISE
|
466
|
67
|
37
|
ROSCOMMON
|
189
|
73
|
45
|
SKIBBEREEN
|
68
|
23
|
12
|
SLIGO
|
208
|
31
|
15
|
AN SPIDEAL
|
19
|
2
|
1
|
STROKESTOWN
|
64
|
20
|
13
|
SWINFORD
|
15
|
3
|
2
|
THURLES
|
159
|
41
|
24
|
TIPPERARY
|
72
|
6
|
3
|
TRALEE
|
157
|
16
|
6
|
TRIM
|
94
|
6
|
1
|
TUAM
|
352
|
78
|
29
|
TUBBERCURRY
|
60
|
11
|
7
|
TULLAMORE
|
384
|
92
|
61
|
VIRGINIA
|
195
|
44
|
28
|
WEXFORD
|
475
|
206
|
145
|
WICKLOW
|
237
|
48
|
26
|
WESTPORT
|
26
|
5
|
2
|
WATERFORD CITY
|
682
|
153
|
82
|
YOUGHAL
|
72
|
18
|
5
|
TOTAL
|
31,632
|
8,998
|
6,121
|
No. of persons convicted in Court of Road Traffic Offences in 2014
Court Area
|
No. of Persons Convicted Under Road Traffic Act
|
No. of Persons convicted under RTA where Driver Number has been recorded
|
No. of Persons convicted of Penalty Point Offence and where Driver Number has been recorded
|
ABBEYFEALE
|
29
|
1
|
1
|
ACAILL
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
ARDEE
|
143
|
25
|
16
|
ARKLOW
|
227
|
129
|
117
|
ATHLONE
|
562
|
334
|
242
|
ATHY
|
138
|
18
|
13
|
BALLINA
|
85
|
31
|
20
|
BANDON
|
347
|
124
|
92
|
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD
|
37
|
8
|
4
|
BALLINASLOE
|
355
|
129
|
66
|
BALLAGHADERREEN
|
89
|
17
|
10
|
BALLYSHANNON
|
107
|
14
|
9
|
BANTRY
|
115
|
38
|
20
|
BRAY
|
521
|
184
|
141
|
BUNCRANA
|
83
|
32
|
21
|
CAHIRCIVEEN
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
CARLOW
|
380
|
87
|
60
|
CASHEL
|
287
|
117
|
86
|
CAVAN
|
228
|
83
|
60
|
CASTLEBAR
|
208
|
105
|
88
|
CLIFDEN
|
43
|
6
|
2
|
CLONMEL
|
209
|
54
|
46
|
CLONAKILTY
|
126
|
34
|
21
|
CORK CITY
|
2,606
|
659
|
446
|
CARRICK ON SHANNON
|
130
|
15
|
10
|
CARRICKMACROSS
|
156
|
65
|
48
|
CARNDONAGH
|
77
|
33
|
25
|
CARRICK ON SUIR
|
68
|
25
|
19
|
CASTLEREA
|
80
|
27
|
17
|
AN DAINGEAN
|
18
|
1
|
1
|
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
|
9,397
|
3,820
|
2,893
|
DUNGARVAN
|
225
|
107
|
79
|
DONEGAL
|
72
|
15
|
9
|
DROGHEDA
|
402
|
73
|
59
|
DOIRE AN FHEICH
|
68
|
11
|
7
|
DUNDALK
|
332
|
21
|
14
|
AN CLOCHAN LIATH
|
41
|
14
|
10
|
ENNIS
|
1,010
|
290
|
207
|
AN FAL CARRACH
|
43
|
17
|
12
|
FERMOY
|
321
|
85
|
44
|
GALWAY
|
1,021
|
272
|
205
|
NA GLEANNTA
|
37
|
15
|
8
|
GORT
|
103
|
21
|
14
|
GOREY
|
408
|
183
|
145
|
KENMARE
|
24
|
0
|
0
|
KILLALOE
|
105
|
33
|
24
|
CILL RONAIN
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
KILCOCK
|
222
|
27
|
22
|
KILKENNY
|
612
|
120
|
63
|
KILLORGLIN
|
23
|
4
|
2
|
KILRUSH
|
125
|
36
|
29
|
KILLARNEY
|
159
|
21
|
13
|
LETTERKENNY
|
369
|
125
|
82
|
LIMERICK
|
2,704
|
166
|
95
|
LISMORE
|
44
|
13
|
10
|
LISTOWEL
|
116
|
12
|
11
|
LONGFORD
|
421
|
241
|
162
|
LOUGHREA
|
256
|
93
|
63
|
MACROOM
|
280
|
113
|
94
|
MALLOW
|
663
|
138
|
78
|
MANORHAMILTON
|
16
|
1
|
1
|
MIDLETON
|
519
|
161
|
115
|
MONAGHAN
|
153
|
54
|
33
|
MULLINGAR
|
467
|
237
|
199
|
NAAS
|
987
|
197
|
155
|
NENAGH
|
194
|
28
|
21
|
NEWCASTLE WEST
|
644
|
84
|
47
|
NAVAN
|
406
|
70
|
60
|
PORTLAOISE
|
727
|
217
|
156
|
ROSCOMMON
|
195
|
79
|
60
|
SKIBBEREEN
|
80
|
19
|
13
|
SLIGO
|
214
|
30
|
22
|
STROKESTOWN
|
84
|
24
|
18
|
THURLES
|
277
|
47
|
31
|
TIPPERARY
|
85
|
16
|
7
|
TRALEE
|
207
|
24
|
12
|
TRIM
|
94
|
12
|
9
|
TUAM
|
528
|
196
|
113
|
TUBBERCURRY
|
42
|
8
|
7
|
TULLAMORE
|
652
|
217
|
177
|
VIRGINIA
|
236
|
104
|
79
|
WEXFORD
|
526
|
305
|
259
|
WICKLOW
|
375
|
181
|
148
|
WESTPORT
|
26
|
12
|
5
|
WATERFORD CITY
|
660
|
194
|
137
|
YOUGHAL
|
77
|
26
|
20
|
TOTAL
|
35,534
|
11,024
|
8,059
|
No. of persons convicted in Court of Road Traffic Offences Jan – May 2015
Court Area
|
No of Persons Convicted Under Road Traffic Act
|
No of Persons convicted under RTA where Driver Number has been recorded
|
No. of Persons convicted of Penalty Point Offence and where Driver Number has been recorded
|
ARDEE
|
64
|
6
|
5
|
ARKLOW
|
65
|
46
|
37
|
ATHLONE
|
304
|
188
|
160
|
ATHY
|
83
|
6
|
5
|
BALLINA
|
39
|
15
|
8
|
BANDON
|
139
|
45
|
32
|
BEAL AN MHUIRTHEAD
|
6
|
5
|
2
|
BALLINASLOE
|
144
|
47
|
26
|
BALLAGHADERREEN
|
26
|
12
|
10
|
BALLYSHANNON
|
42
|
6
|
6
|
BANTRY
|
72
|
28
|
17
|
BRAY
|
236
|
141
|
122
|
BUNCRANA
|
51
|
17
|
14
|
CAHIRCIVEEN
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
CARLOW
|
351
|
83
|
60
|
CASHEL
|
103
|
50
|
37
|
CAVAN
|
165
|
46
|
34
|
CASTLEBAR
|
85
|
31
|
21
|
CLIFDEN
|
30
|
4
|
2
|
CLONMEL
|
64
|
24
|
19
|
CLONAKILTY
|
55
|
15
|
10
|
CORK CITY
|
1,170
|
327
|
234
|
CARRICK ON SHANNON
|
89
|
14
|
8
|
CARRICKMACROSS
|
59
|
17
|
13
|
CARNDONAGH
|
40
|
8
|
6
|
CARRICK ON SUIR
|
35
|
12
|
8
|
CASTLEREA
|
28
|
10
|
7
|
AN DAINGEAN
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
DUBLIN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
|
3,820
|
1,572
|
1,172
|
DUNGARVAN
|
93
|
44
|
34
|
DONEGAL
|
29
|
4
|
2
|
DROGHEDA
|
111
|
21
|
13
|
DOIRE AN FHEICH
|
60
|
2
|
1
|
DUNDALK
|
164
|
15
|
13
|
AN CLOCHAN LIATH
|
15
|
10
|
8
|
ENNIS
|
441
|
135
|
93
|
AN FAL CARRACH
|
17
|
3
|
1
|
FERMOY
|
129
|
43
|
31
|
GALWAY
|
528
|
142
|
101
|
NA GLEANNTA
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
GORT
|
98
|
23
|
19
|
GOREY
|
187
|
98
|
81
|
KENMARE
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
KILLALOE
|
70
|
32
|
26
|
KILCOCK
|
97
|
11
|
9
|
KILKENNY
|
435
|
121
|
74
|
KILLORGLIN
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
KILRUSH
|
61
|
24
|
20
|
KILLARNEY
|
58
|
4
|
3
|
LETTERKENNY
|
200
|
77
|
46
|
LIMERICK
|
1,260
|
80
|
53
|
LISMORE
|
11
|
2
|
0
|
LISTOWEL
|
37
|
5
|
4
|
LONGFORD
|
191
|
124
|
92
|
LOUGHREA
|
119
|
42
|
33
|
MACROOM
|
156
|
77
|
58
|
MALLOW
|
359
|
74
|
46
|
MANORHAMILTON
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
MIDLETON
|
227
|
47
|
30
|
MONAGHAN
|
91
|
26
|
17
|
MULLINGAR
|
216
|
136
|
108
|
NAAS
|
559
|
163
|
127
|
NENAGH
|
153
|
37
|
27
|
NEWCASTLE WEST
|
279
|
30
|
21
|
NAVAN
|
211
|
43
|
36
|
PORTLAOISE
|
292
|
82
|
50
|
ROSCOMMON
|
89
|
28
|
21
|
SKIBBEREEN
|
37
|
16
|
7
|
SLIGO
|
148
|
17
|
14
|
STROKESTOWN
|
46
|
16
|
15
|
THURLES
|
83
|
28
|
25
|
TIPPERARY
|
47
|
11
|
9
|
TRALEE
|
73
|
15
|
10
|
TRIM
|
68
|
9
|
9
|
TUAM
|
253
|
104
|
68
|
TUBBERCURRY
|
19
|
3
|
2
|
TULLAMORE
|
305
|
105
|
84
|
VIRGINIA
|
128
|
32
|
25
|
WEXFORD
|
274
|
171
|
151
|
WICKLOW
|
134
|
87
|
65
|
WESTPORT
|
10
|
6
|
1
|
WATERFORD CITY
|
268
|
63
|
37
|
YOUGHAL
|
28
|
17
|
14
|
TOTAL
|
16,360
|
5,282
|
3,910
|