Vol. 378 No. 3
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was ill and hospitalised for a considerable period of time after having passed her driving test and so failed to apply for her driving licence within the specified time, he will grant her a full licence without her having to repeat the driving test.
105.
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the fact that a person (details supplied) in Cork city, who applied for a driving licence on 25 January 1988, 48 hours after the 18 month deadline from the time of passing the test, he will in these special circumstances grant a full licence without the person having to repeat a driving test.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together.
Under the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 1964 to 1986, a certificate of competency ceases to be valid on the expiration of a period of 18 months after its issue unless, within that period, the holder produces such certificate to his local licensing authority with an application for a driving licence. The certificate of competency itself includes a note informing applicants of this statutory limitation.
As the period of validity of the certificates of competency issued to the persons to whom the Deputy refers had expired before the applications for driving licences were lodged, it is not open to the local authorities to grant such licences.
