Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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480. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason US driving licences cannot transfer here in view of the onerous and internationally recognised test system employed in the US; the reason those who have been driving for decades in the US must complete 12 driving lessons, a theory test and a practical test at considerable expense; the reason, in Germany and Finland, this does not occur despite these countries being subject to the same EU laws and directives as Ireland; if any exceptions are granted to the current system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33577/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law.  As such, we recognise EU driving licences for exchange purposes.  In the case of licences issued outside the EU, Member States may reach bilateral agreements on exchange.  Some Member States have agreements with the US but many, such as the UK, and Ireland do not. Such bilateral agreements cannot happen simply because they are desirable.  Reaching them involves detailed comparison of the two licensing systems in order for each side to be sure that they are compatible.  On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  The RSA has explored the possibility of reaching an agreement on exchange of licences with the USA.  However, driver licensing in the US operates at state rather than federal level, and standards vary greatly between the states.  This means that we would have to reach 50 separate agreements, each of which would have to take account of the exchange relations existing between that state and the other 49.  The RSA found that this would be administratively onerous.

Where no exchange relationship is possible, we must treat people as learners.  All EU Member States require a theory test for learners.  The requirement to conduct 12 lessons before the test is a national one, but many other Member States have similar systems, and many have other, more restrictive, rules for learners. 

At my Department's request, the RSA is currently examining the possibility of a shorter course of lessons for people from non-exchange countries, and I expect to receive proposals on this matter shortly.