Written answers
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Driving Licence Renewals
Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is necessary when renewing your driving licence to provide an eye sight certificate if you continue to wear corrective lenses that is wore corrective lenses on previous driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40653/12]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It depends on the age of the applicant. Applicants for a first learner permit must provide an eyesight report. If that report indicates that they must wear corrective lenses then this is noted on their licence and follows them through the licensing system, and will be noted on subsequent learner permits and on their full licence, when they obtain it. They should therefore not need a further eyesight report when renewing their learner permit, or subsequently when receiving or renewing their full licence. In cases where a person ceases to need corrective lenses - for example after laser eye surgery - they are required to undergo an eye test to prove that they no longer need the lenses.
Applicants for renewal of a driving licence who are over the age of 70 are required to produce an eyesight report at each renewal. This is common practice internationally, and is based on the recognition that eyesight can deteriorate with age, with a potentially serious impact on the individual's capacity to drive.
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