Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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108. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the current loophole in the licensing system which allows learner drivers to repeatedly renew their learner permits without ever sitting a driving test; if he plans to legislate to require learner drivers to sit a test after their third permit, as recommended by PARC road safety group, and raised before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on 8 October 2025; the timeline for the introduction of such legislation in order to close this loophole and strengthen road safety compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60927/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that regulations to ensure learner drivers can no longer repeatedly renew their permits without taking a driving test have been signed. SI 527/2025 - the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025, will come into effect on 1 November 2026.

From November 2026, learners with a permit in categories A, A1, A2 (motorcycle), AM, B (car) or W (tractor) for four years must have taken a practical driving test in the previous two years before they can renew their permit. For most learners, this will be for their third permit. If they have not taken a test, they cannot renew their permit. One further permit, for one year only, will be allowed where the learner has taken a test in the previous two years.

Learners who have held a permit for seven years or more will not be able to renew and will have to begin the learning to drive process again if they wish to continue learning to drive. For category B (car) permits, this involves completing a theory test, obtaining a learner permit, taking 12 Essential Driver Training lessons and sitting a practical test.

Learners with one-year permits will have the same amount of time to complete the learning to drive process as those on two-year permits.

In addition, the period allowed for renewal of a permit following expiry will be reduced from five years to two years.

The Road Safety Authority will be in contact with the learners affected in due course, setting out the changes and providing information regarding testing options and supports available.

This is a road safety measure, to ensure that learners do not remain on learner permits indefinitely without ever taking a test and to encourage learners to become qualified drivers.