James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the NDLS will accept general practitioner medical reports for drivers over 70 years of age dated earlier than usual owing to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16525/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A medical report to accompany an application for a driving licence shall be dated not more than one month prior to the date of application. Regulation 41(3) of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 537 of 2006), as amended, refers.

In light of the need to facilitate social distancing and the additional burdens on medical services due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the requirement for those over 70 (under certain circumstances) to provide a medical report when applying for/renewing a driving licence or learner permit was removed.

This provision meant that from 20 March until 31 July 2020, persons of 70 years of age or over, could apply for and renew their driving licence or learner permit without the need to submit a medical report. This is only on the basis that they do not have an identified or specified illness.

I have decided to introduce Regulations to extend this provision until 31 December 2020 to further facilitate social distancing. These Regulations should be in place before 31 July 2020.