Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
349. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the position on driver learner permits; if he plans to include persons that cannot renew learner permits due to current public health restrictions in the extension provided to those with full driver licences; if not, the rationale for excluding this cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19094/21]
View answerA further extension to the expiry dates of driving licences has been introduced in response to the continued disruption caused by Covid-19 to driver licensing services in Ireland and across the EU. The extension is granted under EU Regulation 2021/267 and applies to different groups of licence holders including those who benefited from extensions in 2020.
The change applies as follows-
- Any licence holder, who has not already renewed, and whose licence expired between 1 March 2020 and 31 May 2020 will have a new expiry date of 1 July 2021.
- Any licence holder, who has not already renewed, and whose licence expired between 1 June 2020 and 31 August 2020 will have thirteen months (which includes the previous extension) added to their expiry date. By way of example a licence which expired on 31 August 2020 will have a new expiry date of 30 September 2021.
- Any licence holder, who has not already renewed and whose licence expiry date is between 1 September 2020 and 30 June 2021 will have an extra ten months added to their expiry date. By way of example a licence which expires on 30 June 2021 will have a new expiry date of 30 April 2022.
Drivers who are affected by the extension are encouraged to check the new expiry date of their driving licence by using the expiry date calculator on the National Driver Licence Service website www.ndls.ie.
An further extension to the validity of learner permits is currently being considered and a decision on this matter is expected shortly.
