Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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89. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of UK licences for drivers living here that were not exchanged before the deadline of 31 December 2020; the steps drivers with Northern Irish licences need to take in relation to same; if the Road Safety Authority and National Drivers Licence Service communications strategy will be evaluated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1382/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Road Safety Authority had no way of knowing how many drivers resident in Ireland were driving on a UK/NI driving licence. The approximate number of licences to be exchanged (Irish residents with UK/NI licences), estimated in early 2019, was based on estimates from the insurance industry and was in the region of 70,000.

From 2019 to mid January 2021, the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) has received 71,052 applications for exchange of a UK/NI driving licence. The NDLS continues to receive applications for exchange daily; however, these figures have reduced. From 1 January to date, the NDLS has received on average 110 applications daily.

For anyone who did not exchange their UK/NI licence by the deadline, their UK/NI licence is no longer valid to drive here in Ireland.  It is only valid for exchange purposes.

Anyone resident here who is the holder of a UK licence, or indeed any other foreign licence from outside the EU that Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with, can exchange their driving licence for an Irish licence by visiting www.ndls.ie.