Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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381. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on introducing a flexible and practical system for recognising commercial truck and machinery licences issued in New Zealand, particularly in cases where an Irish licence holder has resided abroad for more than 10 years; if he will review the possibility of a competency or theory test pathway, similar to the system in New Zealand, for individuals seeking to regain their truck licence upon return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18993/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Irish driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply. The format of driving licences, categories of vehicles and the standards in driving tests to qualify for a licence are set at EU level. As all Member States test drivers to the same standard, there is mutual recognition of driving licences, including for licence exchange.

Ireland may also make bilateral agreements on licence exchange with non-EU jurisdictions. However, this is not a straightforward matter. Reaching an agreement is not a matter of political will and the core principle is to ensure the continued safety of Irish road users.

Reaching a bilateral agreement requires ensuring that the other jurisdiction's standards for obtaining a licence are compatible with our own. Where these standards are not met, no agreement is possible, no matter how desirable an agreement may be. For Ireland, this task falls to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with New Zealand for licence categories A, A1, AM, B and W, but no agreement was reached for C (truck) licences. In addition, Ireland does not exchange New Zealand licences that were obtained by exchange with another jurisdiction, where Ireland does not have a licence exchange agreement with that jurisdiction.

Where a driver holds an exchangeable New Zealand licence, they may apply for an Irish licence in the categories mentioned. On obtaining a B (car/light commercial) licence, they may then seek a C licence in the usual way.

Irish C category licences are valid for five years. However, they may be renewed up to ten years after expiry, provided the holder is resident in Ireland when applying for renewal. Anybody who intends to drive trucks professionally in Ireland must also hold a certificate of professional competence (CPC), in addition to a C category licence. Details on obtaining a CPC are available on the RSA website, at www.rsa.ie/services/professional-drivers/cpc.