Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1620. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the provinces in Canada that have reciprocal arrangements with Ireland in relation to driver licences; the reason the other provinces do not have similar arrangements with Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36345/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Ireland has driver licence exchange agreements in place with the following provinces in Canada: Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland & Labrador, British Columbia & Saskatchewan.

Canadian licences are issued by the government of the province or territory in which the driver is residing. Thus, specific regulations relating to driver's licences vary province to province, though overall they are quite similar. Licence exchange agreements can be made only when the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction have studied and compared the two licensing regimes, so that each side can be satisfied that they are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

We are currently finalising an exchange agreement with Alberta. This will bring to 5 the number of agreements in place with Canada. Work will continue to bring in agreements with the remaining provinces.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1621. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when agreement and mutual recognition of driver licences from Alberta, Canada and Ireland will be reached so that persons who have come to live or returned to live here can obtain an Irish driver licence based on the one they had in Alberta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36346/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Work is progressing on the driver licence exchange agreement with Alberta, Canada. The Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and Alberta is currently with the Alberta authorities for approval and signature. A data sharing agreement will also need to be completed to meet our obligations under Data Protection legislation.

Once the agreements have been signed and returned, the relevant legislation will be put in place to complete the process.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1622. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if persons who passed their driver test in Saskatchewan and did their probationary driving period in Alberta are covered by the reciprocal driving license arrangements between Ireland and Saskatchewan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36347/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Ireland has a driver licence exchange agreement with Saskatchewan, Canada. The place of issue of the licence will determine whether a licence can be exchanged. If a person has a valid Saskatchewan issued driver's licence, this can be exchanged for an Irish licence.