Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated number of Ukrainian persons living in Ireland that hold a licence to drive a truck or bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22002/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Under European Union Regulation (EU) 2022/1280, which came into force on 27 July 2022, Ukrainians residing in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive may drive here on their national driving licences. All categories on the holder's Ukrainian licence are recognised.

As Ukrainian licence holders do not need to exchange their licences, there is no record of licences held. Accordingly, it is not possible to estimate the number of people in Ireland with a Ukrainian truck or bus licence.

The European Union (Driver Qualifications Card) (Persons from Ukraine) Regulations 2023 (SI 159 of 2023), signed into law on 4 April 2023, provide for the issue of an Irish certificate of professional competence (CPC) driver qualification card to the holder of a Ukrainian truck or bus licence and Ukrainian qualification card, after successful completion of additional compulsory training. Following these Regulations, it will be possible to know how many people admitted to Ireland under temporary protection are qualified to drive trucks and buses (category C or D) professionally here using their Ukrainian licences. To date, one person has applied for the training.