Noel Grealish
Ceist:
174. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of cars seized under the learner driver provisions of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, known as the Clancy amendment, since its introduction in December 2018, by year and county; the number of persons convicted of the offence of allowing an unaccompanied learner or an unlicensed person to drive their vehicle by year and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6054/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but it was unfortunately not possible to compile it in the time available.
I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question Number 174 for answer on 4 February 2021, in which you requested the number of cars seized under the learner driver provisions of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, known as the Clancy amendment, since its introduction in December 2018, by year and county; the number of persons convicted of the offence of allowing an unaccompanied learner or an unlicensed person to drive their vehicle by year and county. You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the information was available.
The Clancy Amendment seeks to penalise car owners who knowingly allow their vehicles to be used by an unaccompanied learner driver. The new 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. The number of incidents where a vehicle was seized under the Clancy Amendment is as follows:
6,294 incidents in which drivers have had their vehicles seized under the Clancy Amendment for driving unaccompanied by a qualified driver since 22 December 2018.
The divisional breakdown of these incidents can be found below:
|
|
2018*-2019
|
2020-2021*
|
Grand Total
|
|
Cavan/Monaghan
|
115
|
78
|
193
|
|
Clare
|
16
|
19
|
35
|
|
Cork City
|
62
|
165
|
227
|
|
Cork North
|
64
|
85
|
149
|
|
Cork West
|
80
|
50
|
130
|
|
D.M.R. Eastern
|
66
|
86
|
152
|
|
D.M.R. North Central
|
108
|
141
|
249
|
|
D.M.R. Northern
|
167
|
206
|
373
|
|
D.M.R. South Central
|
105
|
223
|
328
|
|
D.M.R. Southern
|
272
|
349
|
621
|
|
D.M.R. Western
|
387
|
556
|
943
|
|
Donegal
|
76
|
83
|
159
|
|
Galway Div
|
47
|
59
|
106
|
|
Kerry
|
62
|
70
|
132
|
|
Kildare Div
|
213
|
400
|
613
|
|
Kilkenny/Carlow
|
52
|
85
|
137
|
|
Laois/Offaly
|
58
|
123
|
181
|
|
Limerick
|
155
|
131
|
286
|
|
Louth Div
|
48
|
101
|
149
|
|
Mayo
|
25
|
16
|
41
|
|
Meath Div
|
37
|
94
|
131
|
|
Roscommon/Longford Div
|
35
|
72
|
107
|
|
Sligo/Leitrim
|
20
|
24
|
44
|
|
Tipperary
|
59
|
112
|
171
|
|
Waterford Div
|
42
|
136
|
178
|
|
Westmeath Div
|
34
|
26
|
60
|
|
Wexford Div
|
58
|
138
|
196
|
|
Wicklow Div
|
87
|
116
|
203
|
|
National Total
|
2550
|
3744
|
6294
|
* Includes from 22 December 2018 and up to 3 February 2021 only.
Please be aware that these figures are based on incidents which occurred from 22 December 2018 to 3 February 2021 inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE and FCPS systems as was available on 4 February 2021 and is liable to change.
I am informed by the Courts Service that the following reports are based on section 35A(1)(a) and (3) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (as inserted by section 5 of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018) which covers the following offences:
• Vehicle Owner Allow Vehicle to be Driven (No Driving Licence/Learner Permit
• Vehicle Owner Allow Learner Driver Use Vehicle Unaccompanied
The report is by Court Area for persons who were convicted of the said offences.
Please note that the Courts Service can only provide data in relation to where offence codes provided on the system were used by prosecutors. Prosecutors may have used uncoded free text offences and any such offences would not be included in the data provided
Report 1: Vehicle Owner Allow Learner Driver Use Vehicle Unaccompanied
|
Office
|
Court Area
|
Jan – Dec 2019
|
Jan – Dec 2020
|
|
Clonakility
|
Bandon
|
|
1
|
|
Dublin
|
Dublin
|
5
|
|
|
Monaghan
|
Carrickmacross
|
2
|
|
|
Naas
|
Naas
|
|
2
|
|
Nenagh
|
Nenagh
|
|
1
|
|
Portlaoise
|
Portloiase
|
|
2
|
|
Waterford
|
Waterford
|
1
|
|
|
Total
|
|
8
|
6
|
Report 2: Vehicle Owner Allow Vehicle to be Driven (No Driving Licence/Learner Permit)
Jan – 31
st
May 2020
|
Office
|
Court Area
|
Jan – Dec 2019
|
Jan – Dec 2020
|
|
Donegal
|
NA GLEANNTA
|
|
1
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1
|
I hope this information is of assistance.
