Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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190. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the provisions in relation to driving licences that will be put in place for Irish persons who were living in Russia and had to leave due to the war in Ukraine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17514/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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A person who is resident in Ireland must have an Irish or other EU driving licence to drive here.

Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the standards to be met in driving tests to qualify for a licence. When it comes to driving licences issued by non-EU states, we may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange, but only where the two licensing regimes are comparable. Ireland does not have a driving licence exchange agreement with Russia.

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 the standard of the driving test through which they obtained their licence.

A person who has held a full Russian driving licence for more than two years can avail of a shorter process to a full licence, involving Essential Driver Training of six lessons only instead of twelve, and they will not have to wait the minimum of 6 months before taking a driving test.

An Irish learner permit can be renewed up to 5 years after its expiry date.