High demand for discounts on motor insurance has prompted Hibernian Insurance to increase the number of places available on its Ignition training programme from 5,000 to 25,000.

Hibernian has signed Irish international and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Damien Duff (23) to promote the one-day driver training course for less-experienced drivers. Under the Ignition programme, drivers with a clean licence who have passed their test within the past five years can secure a discount on Hibernian motor insurance premiums of up to 40 per cent.

Mr Ciarán Mahon, Hibernian's head of marketing, hopes the scheme will lead to a reduction in accidents and claims, which in turn could lead to reductions in premiums for drivers.

If drivers who have completed the Ignition course make fewer claims than other drivers, the insurer would look to invest further in training schemes, he said.

Under the Ignition scheme, run in association with the Institute of Advanced Motorists UK, drivers of cars no bigger than 1400cc successfully completing the course can get a discount of 20-40 per cent, depending on the score they are awarded.

Candidates can also opt for an additional 10 per cent discount if they refrain from driving between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

"Very few" of the 5,000 people taking part in the pilot programme had opted to avail of this curfew, Mr Mahon said.

Ms Deborah Byrne, who participated in the pilot phase of the Ignition scheme, said she had seen her premiums reduce by about €400 as a result of completing the course. Mr Mahon said Mr Duff would be a great ambassador for the scheme because of his "dedication to his sport on the pitch and his level headedness off it", qualities Hibernian would like to encourage in all its insured drivers.

Mr Duff said he had heard friends complaining about high insurance costs in Ireland and was fully behind any scheme that would reduce premiums.