- From 1 August, N plates are a legal requirement for any driver who gets their first full driving licence in any category on or after that date
- Any driver who receives their first ever learner permit on or after 1st August will be subject to a lower penalty point threshold, a total of seven penalty points rather than 12. This does not apply to anyone currently in the system, eg. people who already have a learner permit or full driving licence before 1st August
- Non-display of N plates is an offence under traffic law and is punishable by a fine not exceeding €1,000 for a first offence. On becoming a fixed charge the failure to display an N-plate will carry 2 penalty points on payment of a fixed charge, or 4 on conviction.


Motoring
Irish Graduated Driving Licence System
The Irish Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) System for Learner / Novice Drivers
The following information comes from the Irish Road Safety Authority regarding the Graduated Driving Licence System:
As you may already be aware, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport announced changes to the driver licensing system that apply to newly qualified novice drivers and first time learner permit holders. These changes are important road safety measures that form part of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system, one of the key actions in the current and previous Government Road Safety Strategies aimed at improving how we train, test and licence learner and novice drivers.
The changes are as follows: