James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a driver licence for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31830/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The recent extension to the validity of driving licences, in response to the continued disruption caused by Covid-19 to driver licensing services in Ireland and across the EU, was granted under EU Regulation 2021/267.

When the extension to the validity of driving licences was made, the expiry date on the driver file for each person affected was updated to the new expiry date. This means that when a driver's record is examined, for example at a roadside checkpoint, the extended expiry date can be checked even if the physical driving licence shows as being expired. It is not possible to extend or not extend individual driving licences. A driving licence cannot be renewed more than 3 months before the expiry of the licence.

A replacement licence can only be issued for lost, damaged or stolen driving licences. A completed Garda Declaration Form is required when applying for a replacement licence.