Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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507. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a grace period will be extended to Irish citizens that hold UK driver licences but are unable to swap their licences before 31 October 2019, for example, if they will be residing abroad until December 2019. [39494/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Motorists resident in Ireland with a UK, including NI driving licence are being advised to exchange that licence for an Irish driving licence before the 31 October 2019.  In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK will no longer be a Member State and so the UK driving licence will not be recognised. People resident in Ireland will no longer be able to drive on a UK driving licence.

However, legislation exists to allow for the recognition of foreign driving licences for exchange purposes in the Road Traffic Acts.  If there is a no deal Brexit, the UK becomes a 3rd country and the potential then exists for arrangements to be made under those Acts.  Ireland will be pursuing this option.  This may take a little time to complete as it involves a formal agreement and legislation here in Ireland, as well as corresponding steps by the UK. 

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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508. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average processing time for a driver licence swap. [39495/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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At present, the average waiting time for the exchange of a UK driving licence for an Irish driving licence is 4 days. The exchange of any other driving licence for an Irish driving licence is taking on average 15 days.