Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
709. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the grounds on which persons taking medication are not allowed to drive vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13175/20]
View answerThe minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving a power-driven vehicle are set out in Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences therefore the criteria are set at EU level.
An application by a person for a driving licence or learner permit must be accompanied by a report by a registered medical practitioner if the applicant is suffering from any illness or disease which requires the regular use of medications likely to affect their ability to drive safely.
The Road Safety Authority, the licensing authority for Ireland, together with the National Office of Traffic Medicine, have developed medical fitness to drive guidelines. The information in these Guidelines is intended to assist doctors and other healthcare professionals in advising their patients on fitness to drive, requirements for reporting to the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) and guidance on review of stability, progression or improvement of these conditions. The guidelines focuses on long-term health and disability-related conditions and their associated functional effects that may impact on driving. The latest version of the guidelines can be found here:
https://www.rcpi.ie/traffic-medicine/
The guidelines are based on the current available scientific and medical evidence and expertise and I do not consider it appropriate or proportionate to interfere.
