Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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34. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress with regard to allowing asylum seekers apply for a driver licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40126/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is responsible for the issuance of driving licenses. That Department is currently examining the policy and law as it pertains to the issuance of Irish driving licenses to international protection applicants. There are on-going communications to determine if an appropriate solution can be found.  The issue is not straightforward and requires careful consideration of both EU and national driver licensing law. Officials of the Immigration Service of my Department sought background information from the European Migration Network as to the interpretation and implementation of the relevant EU law,  Article 12 of Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences (recast), in other member states. This information has since been provided to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and we would expect that this will assist in bringing the matter to a conclusion in the near future.

Where there are any changes to the application system as it may pertain to international protection applicants this will be communicated by that Department accordingly, and by the relevant authorities who have oversight and responsibility for the issuance of driving licenses in the State.