Driving licences fraud probe 'concerning' says minister

Northern Ireland's infrastructure minister has said she is "extremely concerned" by claims that driving licences were fraudulently issued to people who have not passed their test.

Liz Kimmins was speaking at Stormont after police confirmed they were investigating the allegations.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was "working closely" with the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) on the matter.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said: "As this matter is subject to a PSNI investigation we cannot comment at this time."

A DUP assembly member has said that the DVA has sent letters to people "revoking" their licences in recent weeks.

The PSNI said a number of alleged fraud offences in relation to the issuing of driving licences were being investigated.

"We are working closely with officials from DVA and as the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time," a PSNI spokeswoman said.

The claims were first reported in the Sunday World newspaper at the weekend.

It reported allegations that licences were issued to drivers who had not taken their driving test in exchange for payments.

Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday, Kimmins did not provide further details on the extent of the alleged fraud.

"There is a legal investigation. I think it would be remiss of me to comment on that, to allow that process to take its course," she said.

"But obviously I'm extremely concerned to learn about that and I hope that we see a conclusion to that very quickly."

Deborah Erskine, chair of the Stormont assembly's infrastructure committee, said the "implications for road safety are huge".

"Effectively that means that, right now in Northern Ireland, there are potentially people who are driving with a licence without having sat their test," she told the assembly on Monday.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member said the DVA has sent letters to people "revoking" their licences in recent weeks.

"The people to whom those letters were sent may not have been involved in any fraudulent activity but may have been caught up in this farce due to the fact that they sat their test within a certain timescale or with a certain examiner or examiners," she told assembly members.

Erskine said it was "important that assurances are given immediately to the assembly and to the public on how it is being handled".

The infrastructure minister was speaking at Stormont on Tuesday as she launched a new road safety campaign on the dangers of overtaking school buses.

It comes after an 11-year-old girl died in March after being hit by a car when exiting a school bus in Castledawson, County Londonderry.

There have since been fresh calls for new laws to improve school bus safety.

Kimmins said she had asked her officials to look at "options" for legislation but it would "take time" to consider.

Kimmins also announced she intends to increase funding to protect community transport services.

She described the services as a "vital lifeline" for older people, those with mobility issues and in rural areas.

"It's something that I really wanted to ensure that we can deliver on," she added.