Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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448. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to expand the list of countries with which the Department facilitate the transfer/exchange of international driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19888/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Government's priority in reaching licence exchange agreements with non-EU/EEA jurisdictions has been to identify countries that may be a source of professional HGV or bus drivers, given the well-documented shortages faced in Ireland and across the EU in these sectors. Ireland completed an exchange agreement with Georgia in 2024 and the RSA has recently recommended licence exchange agreements with Moldova and North Macedonia, with technical discussions ongoing.

One of the commitments of the Programme for Government 2025 is to “Work to facilitate the easier return to Ireland for emigrants, including reciprocal driving licence arrangements with the USA, Australia and Canada”. Ireland has licence exchange agreements with Australia and with seven of the ten Canadian provinces, with a technical assessment for an agreement under way with Nova Scotia. The Department of Transport will be exploring how to further meet this Programme for Government commitment.