Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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504. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he sought legal, consultancy or specialised technical advice on the basis for the Road Safety Authority requiring a public services card for the driver licence test; if so, the date on which he sought the advice; the cost to date relating to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31555/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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It is Government policy to integrate the Public Services Card (PSC) into all public service provision. In line with this policy, I amended regulations earlier this year to allow the PSC to be used as an optional but not mandatory form of identity in applications for driving licences. The Road Safety Authority, which is responsible for the driver theory test, has required a PSC as a form of identity since June of 2017. However, I understand that the Authority is also going to accept passports as a form of ID, although changing procedures means that this cannot happen immediately.

My Department sought legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General at various stages of this process. There are no specific costs involved. As the Deputy will be aware, we do not comment on advice received from the Attorney General. No advice was sought from any other source.