Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the date on which smart card driver licences and learner permits will be introduced. [18096/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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 including the preparation of proposals for draft regulatory provisions relating to driver licensing and testing. The Road Safety Authority has made a submission to my Department concerning licensing reforms including the introduction of learner permits. These proposals are under consideration at present.

With regard to the introduction of new smart card driver licences, the EU Directive provides that Member States introduce a system of plastic card licences by 2013 at the latest. Responsibility for the driving licences is a matter for the Road Safety Authority but I understand that the Authority will introduce the new system as soon as the standard specifications for the microchip (which will store the licence data) are agreed at EU level.