James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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200. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on an Irish citizen with an expired Australian driving licence for trucks seeking assistance to change the licence back to an Irish driving licence; if the driver can renew the licence in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6151/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Irish driver licensing law operates within EU law and is intended to ensure that drivers on our roads meet high safety standards. The format of driving licences, categories of vehicles, and the standards to be met in driving tests to qualify for a licence are set out at EU level. A person resident in Ireland must have an Irish/EU driving licence to drive here.

Member states may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange with non-EU jurisdictions. Ireland has such an agreement with Australia. The holder of an Australian licence can apply to exchange it for an Irish licence for up to one year after the expiry of the Australian licence. After that period, the Australian licence is no longer considered valid for exchange purposes.

When people come to Ireland with a non-exchangeable licence and they wish to obtain an Irish licence, they are required to go through the normal licence process - sit a theory test, obtain a learner's permit, take mandatory lessons and sit a practical test.