Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

232. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of measures being taken to address delays in the processing of foreign driving licence exchanges; the current average waiting times for the exchange of foreign licences for Irish licences; his plans to allow for the provision of an interim document which would allow an applicant to drive while the exchange of their foreign licence for an Irish licence is processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1245/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

20,604 foreign licence exchange applications were received by NDLS in 2022, 92.5% have been processed. The average processing time for applications in 2022 was 36 working days, this has improved in recent months to 25 working days.  

There are various reasons for the time taken in processing foreign licence exchanges, for example, the driver may need to submit outstanding information, such as, a medical or eyesight report, or the physical driving licence itself in the case of an online application. The most common reason for delays is the NDLS awaiting verification of the driving licence from the foreign driving licence authority. At times a response is received very quickly but sometimes there can be considerable delays.? 

Vigilance is needed when processing a foreign licence for exchange to ensure a fraudulent document has not been submitted and to ensure a driving test was passed in the foreign country in which the licence was obtained.

Under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, it is an offence to drive without a valid driving licence.