Written answers

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Driver Licences

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the options available to Irish citizens that need to travel on essential business in cases in which their driver licence is out of date; if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16804/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The recent extension to the validity of driving licences was made by EU Regulation 2021/267 and is recognised across all EU Member States. Holders of Irish driving licences that have been extended under the EU Regulation should not experience any difficulties while driving in the EU.

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the impact current learner driver regulations are having on persons who move to or return to Ireland and can demonstrate a significant track record of driving abroad; if he will consider waiving the unaccompanied regulations for this cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16815/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law. It is important to remember that driver licensing law exists to ensure that people licensed to drive on our roads meet high standards of safety. The standards for testing drivers are set at EU level. As such, all EU driving licences are exchangeable when a person moves from one Member State to another.

In the case of non-EU jurisdictions, we may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange. These agreements can be made only when the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction have studied and compared the two licensing regimes, so that each side can be satisfied that they are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

When people come to Ireland with a non-exchangeable licence, we have no option but to require them to go through the process of obtaining an Irish licence. This is a matter of public safety. While many may have a safe driving record, we have no way of measuring this.

People with a full but non-exchangeable licence go through the normal driver learning process but can avail of the shorter Essential Driver Training of 6 lessons instead of the usual 12, and they do not have to be a learner for the usual minimum of 6 months before taking a driving test.

It is important to clarify that a learner permit is not a licence, but a permit to allow a person to drive while learning. There will be no exceptions to the current laws in force around learner drivers. An unaccompanied learner driver who is stopped by An Garda Síochána may face penalty points, a fixed charge, seizure of the vehicle and possible prosecution.

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of new learner permit holders that held foreign licensed driving experience from 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16816/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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This is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of learner permit holders by age group 17 to 24, 25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64 and aged 65 and over from 1 January 2016 to 1 January 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16817/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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This is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

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