Catherine Murphy
Ceist:
526. 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 who had their vehicles seized for driving unaccompanied; the number who were issued with a fixed charge notice for driving unaccompanied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41914/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra
The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this question in light of the information I previously provided to the Deputy in response to Dáil Question No 145 on 18 November 2020. I will write to the Deputy directly with the information sought, when it is available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
SUBSTANTIVE ANSWER:
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 526 which was for answer on the 8 December 2020, in which you asked for the number of learner drivers detected driving while unaccompanied under the Clancy amendment law since 22 December 2018; the number that had their vehicles seized for driving unaccompanied; and the number that were issued with a fixed charge notice for driving unaccompanied.
As you may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand. The requested information has now been provided by An Garda Síochána.
As you will be aware, the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, 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 by the Garda authorities that 12,443 Fixed Charge Notices have been issued to learner drivers who were unaccompanied by a qualified driver between 22 December 2018 and 13 December 2020 inclusive.
I am further informed that there was 5,734 incidents in which drivers have had their vehicles seized under the Clancy Amendment for driving unaccompanied by a qualified driver between 22 December 2018 and 13 December 2020 inclusive.
All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE and FCPS systems as was available on 14 December 2020 and is liable to change.
I trust this information is of assistance.
