Small number of banned learner drivers surrender licences

Only four disqualified learner drivers out of 72 convicted before Roscommon courts over the last three years have surrendered their licences, new figures have revealed.

A notification of disqualification issued by the courts service for drivers convicted of a court disqualification includes the requirement to surrender the driving licence or learner permit to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) within 14 days of commencement of the disqualification.

In 2023, Roscommon courts disqualified 26 learner drivers with just one surrendering their licence.

Last year, only one banned learner permit holder out of 23, convicted in local courts, surrendered their licence while up to August 31st 2025, just two of 23 disqualified handed back their licence.

The trend in the non-surrender of licences is replicated across the country. In Leitrim for example, only two drivers of the 21 disqualified before the local courts over the last three years surrendered their licence to the RSA.

The county-by-county data was furnished in a written answer by Junior Minister for Transport, Sean Canney following a parliamentary question by Dublin West Fine Gael TD, Emer Currie.

Minister Canney said it was important to note that, while the “non-surrender of licences was of concern”, the more important issue from a road safety perspective is that the disqualification from driving is observed.