The Department of Transport has said that 8,090 motorists were disqualified from driving between January and July this year, against a total of 10,996 in the whole of 2018, The Irish Times reports.

Gardaí previously reported increases in the detection of various road traffic offences this year, including speeding offences (up 48 per cent), non-wearing of a seatbelt (up 27 per cent), using a mobile phone while driving (up 11 per cent) and drink driving (up eight per cent).

Of drivers disqualified this year, only nine per cent of motorists (744) have handed in their license as required by law.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said failure to hand in a license “does not necessarily mean that person continues to drive during the period of disqualification”.

The minister is currently awaiting a report by Department of Justice officials on plans to improve the number of licenses surrendered by disqualified drivers.