AQW 21617/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 30/01/2025
Answered On Date: 14/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, pursuant to AQW 15836/22-27, to detail why the system used by the Driver and Vehicle Agency is not able to easily identify the total number of cases where doctors or other medical professionals have disclosed information about a patient’s lack of fitness to drive.

Answer:

The Northern Ireland driver licensing system is designed primarily to record information relating to the identity and driving entitlements of persons who make applications for Northern Ireland driving licences. This information is essential in the issue or withdrawal of a licence. The system is also required by law to record details of any endorsements or disqualifications.

The system was designed to enable the easy extraction and reporting of key business information and data to support the effective operation of the business. The ability to readily access other information which does not fall into this criterion, such as that highlighted in the question, is not an essential part of the driver licensing system and was not included in the design specification.