The national vehicle and driver file is the State’s database for driving licences, disqualifications and penalty points. It is relied on by An Garda Síochána and insurance companies yet in 2024 almost 8,000 penalty points were unmatched. That is mainly through the Courts Service. Following questions I raised last year, the Department reviewed the matching process for disqualifications and penalty points but these figures are not providing reassurance. The Department admitted that over 1,500 penalty point offences could have been matched if the system was more effective. Can the Taoiseach encourage clarity on how many disqualifications from drivers accumulating 12 penalty points or seven on a learner permit cannot be fully enforced on our roads because those penalty points are not being recorded on the national vehicle and driver file? Now is a time for difficult and forensic questions about our Vision Zero strategy.

There is a responsibility on the services concerned and on the agencies concerned to do this properly and effectively. The Government cannot run every agency. I will alert the Minister to the issues the Deputy raised here but there is an obligation on the services to do this and enforce and fulfil the law so that the penalties are applied and the consequences which flow from such penalties are given effect to.