Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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566. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to review the driving licence renewal process for persons over 70 years of age which requires a general practitioner to make an assessment of eyesight, given that an optician may be better suited for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4755/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines are reviewed regularly - the most recent in 2015. From a policy perspective, the requirement of proof of medical fitness for older drivers was introduced and has been maintained on safety grounds.  As deteriorations due to aging can have detrimental effects on driving skills, it has been deemed prudent to require medical certification of fitness to drive on a periodic basis for older drivers.  This is widespread international practice and has been the case in this jurisdiction since 1964.

 Age-related conditions which may impair driving ability are not confined to eyesight, but cover a wide range.  This is why a certification of fitness is required from a general practitioner rather than an optician.

Periodic medical testing of drivers helps to detect disease, as well as diminishing eyesight, in time.  This is all the more necessary as many drivers may not be aware of the deterioration of their driving skill.  Identification of deteriorations does not necessarily mean that drivers will not be able to renew their licences, as many deteriorations associated with age may be correctable with treatment.