The Road Safety Authority has confirmed that 17,656 motorists convicted of driving offences have escaped penalty points because of a legal loophole.

The RSA’s Noel Brett said court clerks were not legally obliged to pass on the licence numbers of drivers convicted in court of offences that carry points.

The RSA is the body charged with applying penalty points.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Brett said he hoped the new Road Safety Bill would close the loophole.

According to the Irish Independent, 18,383 drivers have been convicted of offences that require a mandatory court appearance since 2003.

However just 727 of these drivers had penalty points applied.