Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
215. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons by county residing in Ireland using a UK driver licence; the way in which they will be impacted by Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42585/20]
View answerThere is no way to establish how many people living in Ireland hold a UK licence; however, the Road Safety Authority estimates that there may be as many as 15,000 people who have yet to exchange their UK licence for an Irish licence before the deadline of 31 December.
Driving licences issued by the Member States of the European Union are mutually recognised. Therefore, a holder of an EU licence who moves to another Member State can drive on that licence until the licence expires. On expiry, the licence holder will then need to exchange their licence for the licence of the country they are now resident in.
After the transition period (transition period ends 31 December 2020), the UK will no longer be a Member State and so a UK driving licence will not be recognised here. Holders of UK licences resident in Ireland have been encouraged since 2019 to exchange their UK licences for an Irish one in advance of 31 December 2020.
Legislation exists to allow for the recognition of foreign driving licences for exchange purposes in the Road Traffic Acts. Following the transition period, the potential then exists for arrangements to be made under those Acts and Ireland will be pursuing this option. This may take a little time to complete as it involves a formal agreement and legislation here in Ireland, as well as corresponding steps by the UK.
