Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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131. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the NDLS can arrange for a person (details supplied) to be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44544/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The current extensions## to the validity of driving licences were granted under EU Regulation 2021/267 and are recognised by all EU Member States. The Regulation applied to driving licences with expiry dates up to 30 June 2021. Ireland subsequently received authorisation from the EU under Commission Decision 2021/1362 to extend this applicable period to cover licences that will expire up to 31 October 2021.

When the extensions are applied, the expiry date on the driver file for each person affected is updated to the new expiry date. It is not possible to extend or not extend individual driving licences. A driving licence can not be renewed more than 3 months before the expiry of the licence. Therefore, a driving licence that expires in October 2021 and has now been extended to August 2022 cannot be renewed until May 2022 at the earliest.

All EU Member States will recognise an extension granted by the EU. Car hire companies are private companies and my Department has no say in the leasing policy of such companies here or abroad.

I have written to EU Commissioner V?lean, DG-MOVE, and to the Tánaiste in his role as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, on this issue as it is primarily a matter of consumer protection and of upholding the operation of the single market, rather than one of road safety or road traffic law enforcement.

In the meantime, although a new licence will not be issued with the extended expiry date, you may wish to request a letter of entitlement from the Road Safety Authority to bring with you when driving abroad. A letter of entitlement is a copy of your driving record and will show the extended date of expiry of your licence. Further information can be found on the National Driver Licence Service website here www.ndls.ie/about/order-my-driver-statement.html.