Gardaí Gained Penalty Point Access in December, Still Await Driver Photos

Gardaí gained access to motorists’ penalty points and court disqualifications via their roads policing mobility app in December, seven years after the technology's initial launch. However, they still lack access to driver licence photographs and signatures.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan stated that Garda authorities informed him officers do not have full access to the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) from the Department of Transport, nor through the mobility app. The app, introduced in 2019, received an update last year, deployed nationally after a pilot in Kildare and Carlow, which enhanced the presentation of selected NVDF data, including penalty points and disqualifications.

Despite a private secretary's letter in January claiming full NVDF access for all Garda members as of December 9, 2025, it emerged that photographs are still unavailable. Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney confirmed in March that his department is considering a September 2025 Garda request for licence photographs and signatures, seeking legal advice on NVDF data sharing, hoping to conclude by summer with the planned enactment of the National Vehicle and Driver Bill.

Emer Currie, Fine Gael TD, highlighted critical information gaps, emphasizing the need for up-to-date tools. Road safety group Parc's Susan Gray expressed concern over missing data, particularly the crucial driver licence photograph, which some motorists exploit by claiming to be relatives. The Department of Transport considers the photograph “particularly sensitive” personal data, with legal and data protection implications under ongoing review. Former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had also advocated for full NVDF access to identify high-risk drivers.