John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are controls in place to prevent persons from making multiple applications to different authorities for driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17675/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for driver licensing has recently transferred from local authorities to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), with the introduction of the plastic card licence in January.

The system will operate through three outsourced contracts that the RSA has awarded. While the plastic card production facility is already in operation, the companies involved in providing back office processing and front-office customer interface services are currently gearing up and will not be fully operational until later this year. In the meantime, during the transition period, local authorities will continue to perform some driver licensing functions on behalf of the RSA. 

Once processed, all driver licences are recorded on the National Vehicle and Driver File, held by my Department.  This ensures that multiple licences will not be issued to the same individual.