Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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835. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 480 of 17 October 2017, the status of plans to introduce a more streamlined and shorter assessment programme for foreign issued driver licence holders (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12055/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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This matter relates to the requirement for people who take up residence in this jurisdiction and hold a driving licence which is not exchangeable for an Irish licence. 

In these cases, people are currently required to undergo the full driver learning process in order to obtain an Irish driving licence, with the sole difference being that they are not required to be a learner for the usual six months before applying for a driving test.

The principal source of cost and time in this process is the requirement to undertake the mandatory 12-lesson Essential Driver Training (EDT) programme.  I had indicated before that I was considering whether a shortened programme might be more appropriate, and this is a matter which has been discussed in detail with the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  I also considered ending the requirement to take these lessons entirely, but I decided on balance that it is better to retain some lessons, both to help people to adjust to specifically Irish driving conditions and to help them prepare for the driving test.

On 21 February of this year, I announced my decision to proceed with a plan to create a 'Short EDT' of 6 lessons for people in this situation. Regulations are currently being prepared for this new arrangement.  I am not in a position at present to provide a date as to when the new system will be introduced.