Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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810. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of expiring learner permits which may lapse while driver tests are unable to be taken due to Covid-19 public health measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7709/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Due to the closure of services provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, I took measures to extend the validity of number of documents, including the learner permit. Any learner permits which were due to expire from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 inclusive have had their period of validity extended by 4 months.

Whether the period will need to be extended further will be kept under review in light of anticipated timelines by the RSA to resume driver testing and the National Driver Licensing Services.

The RSA is currently working, in consultation with my Department, on plans for the resumption of the range of services and functions for which it is responsible, following the publication of the Government roadmap and, more recently, the National Return to Work Safety Protocol as agreed by employer and trade union representatives.