Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the current process of exchanging a non-Irish driving licence for a Irish licence in the case of returning citizens who initially sat and passed their driving test in Ireland. [64550/25]

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 Irish driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law - the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply. The standards for testing drivers are set at EU level and EU driving licences are recognised and exchangeable when a person moves from one Member State to another.

A person who is resident in Ireland must have an Irish/EU driving licence to drive here. An Irish driving licence can be renewed in Ireland up to 10 years after the date of expiry of the licence. After this time, the licence cannot be renewed and the person is no longer considered a qualified driver.

I do not propose to make exceptions for people returning to Ireland who previously held an Irish driving licence which has now lapsed by more than 10 years - the period within which the licence may be renewed - and the holder is treated the same as residents in the State whose licences have expired by more than 10 years.