Written answers

Tuesday, 24 November 2020

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Driver Licences

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 12 November 2020, the rationale for the requirement to have a public services card to access the national driver licence service, NDLS, online system; the legislative or statutory provision on which the requirement is based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38103/20]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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A person applying for a driving licence or learner is required to present photographic ID, evidence of their Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), evidence of address and evidence of residency entitlement. When an applicant presents in person at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) office, the required documentation is examined and a face-to-face verification is done.

The same information is required when accessing the online system, and the PSC satisfies this requirement as the information has already been provided and verified by another Government department. Without a PSC, it is not possible to access the online system.

Regulation 54 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulation 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006), as amended by Regulation 2(c) of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 98 of 2018) allows for the PSC to be provided as evidence of identity when applying for a driving licence.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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238. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if persons here with a UK driver licence that was issued in exchange for a Zimbabwean licence will be able to exchange their current driver license for an Irish driver licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38104/20]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Irish driving licensing legislation is based on a framework of European Union law.

A European Union driving licence is exchangeable for an Irish driving licence, except where the licence issued by the other Member State was itself issued in exchange for a licence from a state that is not a Member State, or a state that Ireland does not have a licence exchange agreement with.

As Ireland does not have a licence exchange agreement with Zimbabwe, a UK licence that was granted in exchange for a Zimbabwean licence cannot be exchanged for an Irish licence.

The Road Traffic (Recognition of Foreign Driving Licences) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 527 of 2007) refers.

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