Written Answers Nos. 221-240
221. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the sector to which the carbon credits gained as a result of the rewetting of bogs and management of peatlands will be attributed; when this decision will be made; the reasoning that will be used to reach this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30338/21]
View answerPeatlands are considered Managed Wetlands and are currently reported in Ireland’s national greenhouse gas emission inventory submissions to the EU and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation (LULUCF) requires each Member State to ensure that accounted CO emissions from land use are entirely compensated by an equivalent removal of CO from the atmosphere through action in the LULUCF sector. This commitment is referred to as the ‘no debit rule’. For example, if a Member State converts forests to other land uses (deforestation), it must compensate for the resulting emissions by planting new forest (afforestation) or by improving the sustainable management of existing forest, croplands, grasslands or wetlands. In this way the ‘no-debit’ commitment incentivises Member States to take actions that increase the absorption of CO in agricultural soils, forests and re-wetting organic soils. The current Climate Action Plan identifies several measures for Ireland to achieve a 26.8Mt CO2eq of abatement over the period 2021-2030 which includes the re-wetting of bogs and better management of peatlands. However, it important to note that there are also activities that could prevent these removals from being realised. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021, when enacted, will introduce a number of new obligations to help ensure good governance in respect of climate action. The Climate Change Advisory Council will propose a programme of three successive 5-year carbon budgets in a carbon budget programme. Once these economy-wide budgets are approved, I will prepare sectoral emissions ceilings taking into account how land-use emissions are treated, for each relevant sector in consultation with other Ministers. These sectoral emissions ceilings must also be approved by the Government.
222. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises connected under the National Broadband Plan in counties Galway and Roscommon to date in tabular form. [30278/21]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.
There are 38,897 premises within the NBP intervention area in County Galway. I am advised by NBI that, as of 27 May, 14,914 of the premises have been surveyed. Surveying is complete or ongoing in the areas of Oranmore, Clarinbrige, Claregalway, Furbo, Barna, Ballinasloe, Kiltomer, Oatfield, Annagh, Kilconnell, Ahascragh, Inverin, Spiddal, Bealadangan, Costelloe, Rossaveel, Derroe, Carraroe, Sruthan, Loughrea, Kilnadeema, Kilchreest, Clostoken, Carrabane, Bullaun, Kilreekill and Heathlawn. Main build work are currently underway in areas of Galway and Ballinasloe. Pre-build works are underway in Gort.
There are 19,185 premises within the Intervention Area in County Roscommon and NBI has advised that 8,268 of the premises have been surveyed. In County Roscommon surveying is complete or ongoing in the areas of Ballymurray, Athleague, Castlecoote, Donamon, Ballymacurley, Lackan, Kilroosky and Fourmilehouse. Main works have commenced in the areas around Ballymurray, Athleague, Castlecoote, Donamon, Ballymacurley, Lackan, Kilroosky and Fourmilehouse.
The following table sets out the areas where build works for the new high speed broadband network have commenced in County Galway and County Roscommon and where premises are expected to be passed and available for connection later this year.
|
Area |
Number of Premises (approx.) |
Current Status |
|
Galway |
3,502 |
Main build works underway |
|
Ballinasloe |
3,307 |
Main build works underway |
|
Roscommon |
3,591 |
Main build works underway |
Further details are available on specific areas within County Galway and Roscommon through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 27 May, 317 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible locations and the Department of Education for schools. In County Galway BCP sites are connected at Kilronan Library, Comhar Na Noileán, Cortoon Community Centre, Lettermullen Community Centre and Old Secondary School. In County Roscommon, BCP sites are connected at Creeve Community Centre, Ballybay Community (Parochial) Hall, Dangan Community Centre, Saint Patrick'S Hall, Cam Community Centre, Gortaganny Resource Center and Tawnytaskin Community Centre.
In County Galway, Ballinakill National School, Brownsgrove National School, Mweenish National School, Saint Joesph's National School, Scoil Caomhain, Saint Mary's National School and Briarhill National School are connected as part of this initiative. In County Roscommon Ballagh National School is connected. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband and this aspect of the National Broadband Plan is to be accelerated to ensure 679 primary schools nationally are connected to high speed broadband by the end of next year.
223. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the accuracy of the tagging scheme for wild salmon and sea trout (details supplied) on the River Maine. [30290/21]
View answerManagement of each of Ireland’s more than 140 salmon rivers, including the Maine, derives from the individual conservation needs of the rivers as each has a genetically unique stock of salmon. The annual management advice of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IF) is supported by the annual assessment of individual stocks by, and scientific advice of, the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS).
I am advised by IFI that fish counters are one component of the assessment process and TEGOS draws on a number of data sets including rod catch, commercial catch and catchment wide electro-fishing in its assessments.
These assessments also take account of 5 years of the most recent data across all data sets. This is done to assess multi-annual trends, and so that data from a single year does not disproportionately affect the scientific assessments based on the established precautionary principle.
The Maine counter differentiates between salmon and sea trout based on signal size and run timings. A large sea trout can be mistaken for a salmon. However, IFI installed cameras on the Maine counter in 2009 and in 2020 the cameras were upgraded and new high definition cameras were installed. The information from the HD cameras is that the numbers of large sea trout in the system are not significant. IFI has plans to upgrade the weir further, subject to environmental and other assessments.
I attach a comprehensive IFI briefing note on the setting of the available surplus on the river for the Deputy’s information.
224. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out a full analysis of the trade-off between the carbon intensity of imported fuels versus that of domestic production within a robust regulatory framework; the overall impact of each on the carbon footprint of Ireland’s energy needs; if the analysis will be provided to the Houses of the Oireachtas and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30308/21]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the response provided to Question [29992/21] on Wednesday, 2 June 2021. The position remains unchanged.
225. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for the expected decision of the state aid complaints in respect of the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30317/21]
View answerThe Department has had no further correspondence with the European Commission since providing a response to the Commission on 7 May 2020 and it is not clear whether in fact there are any formal complaints open at this time.
226. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given in 2021 to revisiting a home (details supplied) which has previously received works under the SEAI warmer homes scheme which is not currently eligible for a second visit under the SEAI one home one visit policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30347/21]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. In order to qualify for support, applicants must own and live in their home which was built and occupied before 2006 and must be in receipt of certain social welfare payments.
To date, over 143,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme. In 2020 the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was over €14,800.
Individual applications to the Warmer Homes Scheme are an operational matter for the SEAI and as Minister I have no role in such matters. However in reference to the case raised by the Deputy, I have been informed by the SEAI that the home in question received works in 2016 under the Warmer Homes Scheme and was not suitable for wall insulation at the time.
There are nearly 8,000 homes on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. These homes have not previously received any free upgrades under the scheme and for that reason are the priority to receive upgrades. Recommendations on the implementation of changes to the scheme to better target those most in need are being developed and I anticipate that they will be finalised shortly.
It is important to note that I have secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme. Funding for the energy poverty retrofit schemes has also increased to over €109 million in 2021. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation. In addition, delivery capacity has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020.
227. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 11 May 2021, the details of the requirement that renewable energy communities must be effectively controlled by shareholders or members that are located in the proximity of the project with regard to the renewable electricity support scheme; the distance criteria used to gauge proximity to the project; the proportion of the REC membership must be located in the proximity of the project; if there are any minimum requirements on the number of members an REC can have; if the aforementioned rules and criteria will continue to apply under the revised 100% community-owned arrangement announced by him in February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30360/21]
View answerTo ensure genuine community participation in the separate community category of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), the definition of a community-led project for the purposes of the first RESS auction included the stipulation that such projects must be at least 51% owned by a Renewable Energy Community (REC). For future RESS auctions this will rise to a 100% REC ownership requirement for entry to the community category.
The REC definition employed in RESS was largely derived from the REC definition provided through the EU’s Clean Energy Package, with particular reference to Article 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001. Accordingly, under the definition adopted in RESS a REC must to be open to all potential local members based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria and must be effectively controlled by shareholders or members that are located in the proximity of the project, which underlines the key role of local participation and decision making in the energy projects.
Proximity is not defined in the recast Renewable Energy Directive, which is currently in the process of being transposed into Irish law. I am not inclined to define proximity through the transposition process underway in recognition of the fact that no two communities are alike. Flexibility as regards proximity will allow local communities to define their own boundaries as appropriate to them.
Similarly, there is no defined minimum requirement in respect of the number of members a REC can have, as long as the primary purpose of the REC is to provide environmental, economic or social community benefits for its shareholders or members or for the local areas where it operates, rather than financial profits.
228. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to ban the sale of peat-based compost similar to the planned ban in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30397/21]
View answerI have no function in relation to the regulation of the sale of such products in Ireland.
The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has established, earlier this year, a multi-stakeholder Working Group to examine issues related to the use of peat moss in the Horticulture sector.
229. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he will implement to support the post office network in view of the particular challenges facing that sector at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30400/21]
View answer230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the post office network will be enabled to provide additional Government services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30401/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.
Government is fully committed to a sustainable post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure in both rural and urban areas.
Government continues to provide significant business to An Post through the Department of Social Protection’s Social Welfare contract and National Treasury Management Agency business. Government efforts have been focussed on supporting An Post in the roll out of new services and the delivery of its strategic plan.
An Post, has been growing its financial services as a key part of its business strategy, building on the significant savings business it has in partnership with the NTMA, its market-leading position in foreign exchange and existing current account, credit card and consumer lending customer base.
A Capital Expenditure programme was approved at Ministerial level which, as part of the Company’s commitment to the sustainability of its network, is designed to develop the newer elements of An Post’s Financial Services business and mitigate declining core mail volumes and revenues on the Retail side of the business. €30m in State funding was made available to the company, of which €15 million is to support the renewal of the post office network and a further €15 million towards the continued fulfilment of a five-day per week mail delivery service.
Government is committed to working with An Post and postmasters to ensure that the network continues to play a strong role in delivering State services. Government recently approved the Report on the Provision of Offline Government Services and the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Group, co-chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to, inter alia, examine the feasibility of directing more Government business to the post office network. The Group has already met three times and will report back to Government by the end of July.
All options will be considered fully to give effect to our commitment to ensuring a sustainable and viable post office network, while respecting the commercial mandate of An Post.
231. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if rapid antigen testing will be introduced for persons travelling abroad at the end of summer 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30405/21]
View answerThe Government continues to advise against non-essential international travel and that essential travel is undertaken with due regard to public health safety measures.
The latest government announcement on international travel, which indicates the approach from 19 July, 2021 onwards, subject to the prevailing public health situation, is available on www.gov.ie.
To inform themselves about testing requirements for travel to other countries, passengers are advised to monitor the official advice and information provided by the authorities at their destination. In particular, they should inform themselves of any restrictions on arrival. Country specific information about entry restrictions currently applied by other countries is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs website at https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice.
Passengers travelling abroad should also inform themselves of guidance and requirements for passengers returning to Ireland. Information on these requirements is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/.
With regards to testing, our public health authorities are responsible for determining the most appropriate testing regimes for COVID-19 in Ireland, and Government is guided by their recommendations. My Department assists with the implementation of public health measures in relation to international travel, as decided by Government.
I am aware that considerable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the potential use of rapid antigen tests in an Irish context. The Government has decided, however, that for testing for international travel to Ireland a Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is the only test that is accepted.
232. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to recommence offering theory test services at Macroom test centre; if the newly introduced online theory test will be maintained on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30281/21]
View answerUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Theory Test.
The location of Thoery Test centres is an operational matter for the RSA and I do not have any role in this process. This part of the question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
In line with the further easing of restrictions, the gradual re-opening of in-person driver theory test centres will commence after the 7th of June. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will reopen its network of test centres with capacity being permitted at 25,000 driver theory tests per month.
Prior to COVID-19, the RSA provided 15,000 tests per month. In light of the significant backlog of customers, the RSA will gradually increase capacity in its test centres to 25,000 tests a month.
The RSA has been working to deliver an online theory test service, with a pilot online test already underway for trucks and buses. This pilot service has now been extended to include a limited number of cars and motorbike tests.
The new offering will see 4,000 online theory tests available for all categories of vehicles per month. Tests are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis with the new online service becoming more widely available later in the year. From mid-June, the RSA will be adding an additional 2,000 online tests. Once the online service is fully established, all customers will be able to opt to do the test online.
233. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport when driver theory tests will be resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30286/21]
View answerIn line with the further easing of restrictions, the gradual re-opening of in-person driver theory test centres will commence after the 7th of June. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will reopen its network of test centres and will be permitted to conduct 25,000 driver theory tests per month.
Prior to COVID-19, the RSA provided 15,000 tests per month. In light of the significant backlog of customers, the RSA will gradually increase capacity in its test centres to 25,000 tests a month.
The test centres have extensive COVID-19 measures in place to protect both customers and staff and to ensure the safe delivery of the service. It is hoped that capacity will gradually increase to 50,000 tests per month over time, if public health guidance permits.
The RSA has been working to deliver an online theory test service, with a pilot online test already underway for trucks and buses. This pilot service has now been extended to include a limited number of car and motorbike tests.
The new offering will see 4,000 online theory tests available for all categories of vehicles per month. Tests are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis with the new online service becoming more widely available later in the year. In June the number of tests available will increase by 2,000. Once the online service is established, all customers will be able to opt to do the test online .
234. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicle charging points that have been supplied in Dublin city and county by electoral area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30291/21]
View answer235. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the status of his work to supply electric vehicle charging points; the number of charging points that will be supplied over the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30292/21]
View answer236. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged in a plan to allow those who own apartments to have an electric vehicle charger installed at their private parking space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30293/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 234 to 236, inclusive, together.
The Deputies will be aware that the Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years.
€10 million was committed from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) to support ESB investment in the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention alone will result in:
- 90 additional high power chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles
- 52 additional fast chargers, which may replace existing standard chargers
- 264 replacement standard chargers with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points
The project is due to be completed in 2022.
Further details on ESB charge points nationwide can be found at https://esb.ie/ecars/charge-point-map
In light of the ESB eCars responsibility in the matter of the number of charge points provided by county, I have forwarded the Deputies' questions to the ESB for direct response. Please contact my Office if no reply is received within 10 working days.
While several private operators such as Tesla, Ionity & EasyGO are involved in providing charging infrastructure, my Department does not hold information on the location of charging infrastructure which has been installed without government support. I am aware, however, that ESB has partnered with Tesco Ireland to install 22kW Standard AC Chargers at a number of Tesco locations around the country. More than 50 of these are planned in total. My Department is also making €2 million available this year through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support the installation of destination charge points in locations such as hotels and parks. This new initiative will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.
In addition to the ESB project, the Public Charge Point Scheme has been in place since September 2019 and will continue to be available during 2021 to provide local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 to support the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of electric vehicles, who do
not have access to a private parking space but rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes, to charge their EVs. Applications are currently being assessed for approval.
Combined with an effective public charging network, Ireland's home charging policy will help sustain and service the expected growth of electric vehicles on Irish roads. Charging while at home accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most common and cheapest form of charging. To support home charging, the SEAI, on behalf of my Department, administers an EV Home Charger Grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit.
Work is currently being progressed to expand the EV home charger grant to include shared parking in apartment blocks and similar developments. However, there are a number of complex planning issues to address before we can expand the grant in an appropriate manner so as to include the required categories of shared parking. My Department is working closely with the SEAI and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the issues.
On new builds, it should be noted that the EU energy performance and buildings directive requires member states to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is installed in all new residential and non-residential buildings as well as those buildings with more than ten car parking spaces for the purpose of enabling the installation of a larger stage of charging points for electric vehicles. This is currently being transposed into Irish law.
237. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport when driver theory tests will recommence. [30310/21]
View answerIn line with the further easing of restrictions, the gradual re-opening of in-person driver theory test centres will commence after the 7th of June. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will reopen its network of test centres and will be permitted to conduct 25,000 driver theory tests per month.
Prior to COVID-19, the RSA provided 15,000 tests per month. In light of the significant backlog of customers, the RSA will gradually increase capacity in its test centres to 25,000 tests a month.
The test centres have extensive COVID-19 measures in place to protect both customers and staff and to ensure the safe delivery of the service. It is hoped that capacity will gradually increase to 50,000 tests per month over time, if public health guidance permits.
The RSA has been working to deliver an online theory test service, with a pilot online test already underway for trucks and buses. This pilot service has now been extended to include a limited number of car and motorbike tests.
The new offering will see 4,000 online theory tests available for all categories of vehicles per month. Tests are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis with the new online service becoming more widely available later in the year. From mid-June, the RSA plans to increase this by a further 2,000. Once the online service is fully established, all customers will be able to opt to do the test online.
238. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if the modal and intervention hierarchies within the National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland will not lead to any loss of central Government funding for the long delayed and vital road projects for County Donegal, the Ten-T priority improvement project and the A5 project in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30312/21]
View answerThe purpose of the investment hierarchies within my Department’s draft land transport investment framework is to ensure that the most appropriate solutions to a given transport issue or opportunity are deployed. The modal hierarchy seeks to promote sustainable transport modes while the intervention hierarchy seeks to ensure we invest in a manner that is proportional to the issue at hand. However, the hierarchies are not rigid tools and their application will be flexible and pragmatic at the project-level. Investment will remain principles-based and objectives-led. Where solutions that are high on either hierarchy are infeasible or inappropriate to meet the objectives of a given investment, solutions from further down the hierarchy will be considered.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code Guidelines which examine the rationale, objectives, scope, options, costs and benefits of projects and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise on the current status and funding of the proposed projects in County Donegal, pending also the Government's review of the NDP.
The planning and implementation of the proposed A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities. The funding arrangements in relation to the scheme are governed by the commitments in the Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan and in the New Decade, New Approach document. In this context the Irish Government is committed to providing funding of £75 million (sterling) towards the cost of Phase 1a of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland is concluded and construction commences.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
239. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) has had their driver theory test postponed by nearly a year; the steps he is taking to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30352/21]
View answerThe Department is very conscious of the significant number of people waiting to take their driver theory tests.
In line with the further easing of restrictions, the gradual re-opening of in-person driver theory test centres will commence after the 7th of June. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will reopen its network of test centres and will be permitted to conduct 25,000 driver theory tests per month.
Prior to COVID-19, the RSA provided 15,000 tests per month. In light of the significant backlog of customers, the RSA will gradually increase capacity in its test centres to 25,000 tests a month.
The test centres have extensive COVID-19 measures in place to protect both customers and staff and to ensure the safe delivery of the service. It is hoped that capacity will gradually increase to 50,000 tests per month over time, if public health guidance permits.
The RSA has been working to deliver an online theory test service, with a pilot online test already underway for trucks and buses. This pilot service has now been extended to include a limited number of car and motorbike tests.
The new offering will see 4,000 online theory tests available for all categories of vehicles per month. Tests are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis with the new online service becoming more widely available later in the year. The RSA has indicated that this will expand in mid-June with the addition of a further 2,000 online tests. Once the online service is fully established, all customers will be able to opt to do the test online.
240. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered extending the extension period for driver licences through the summer to ensure that those with licences due to expire soon who reside outside the State who cannot renew online do not have to return to Ireland to renew their licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30361/21]
View answerA further extension to driving licences is currently being considered. If approved, this extension will only apply to those driving licence that will expiry for the first time between the relevant dates. Licences that have already been extended will not be extended further.
A person must be resident in Ireland to apply for or renew a driving licence.
A holder of an Irish licence who is resident in another EU member state can continue to drive on their Irish licence as EU driving licences are mutually recognised. Once the Irish licence expires, the licence must be exchanged for a licence issued by the member state in which the person resides.
An Irish driving licence can be renewed in Ireland up to 10 years after the expiry date of the licence.
