Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1076: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on changing the existing size and format of the driving licence, to allow for a more compact and smaller licence, which would be easily accessible to a personal wallet and so on; his views on changing the size of the existing driving licence in view of the fact that drivers are required to have a licence on them at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28312/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The intention is to produce a credit card sized plastic card driving licence in due course. The licence format will be as provided for in the draft third EU Directive on driving licences which provides for the issuing of new licences in plastic card format only and allows for the introduction of an optional microchip on the driving licence.

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the oversight of the operation of the driver licensing system and liaising with and supporting licensing authorities in relation to the issuing of licences including the provision and control of the issue of stocks of licences to licensing authorities. It is now a matter for the RSA to arrange for the supply of a plastic card licence when outstanding issues at EU level are determined.

Once the Directive is finalised and issues, including the specification of the microchip, are agreed at EU level, I anticipate that a tender request will be issued by the RSA.