'A road safety priority' - Unlimited licence renewals for learner drivers to be scrapped

Unlimited licence renewals for learner drivers is set to be scrapped in a bid to improve road safety. 

That's according to the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, who recently (March 21) confirmed the news during Parliamentary Questions. 

Responding to a question posed by Sinn Féin TD, Martin Kenny, about the practice of learner drivers continuing to drive while repeatedly renewing their learner licence, Chamber said, "The issue of multiple successive learner permits is a road safety priority for me, and my Department is committed to addressing it.

"However, it requires three parallel approaches to be successful." 

According to Chambers, this includes changing the permit renewal system to prevent unlimited renewals, increasing driver testing capacity for timely access to practical tests, and reviewing driver training and the training curriculum to better prepare candidates for the driving test. 

He continued: "Preparatory work has begun. Under Action 27 of the Road Safety Strategy, my officials have agreed an approach with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to addressing learner permit renewal, while the RSA is increasing testing capacity and I understand that driver training is under review. 

"My Department has begun assessment of the legislative requirements and an internal RSA working group is scoping the technological and administrative changes and resources required.

"It is expected that implementation of this proposal will proceed when the driver testing backlog is resolved and it will include lead in time for people who will be affected to make arrangements to comply with the new requirements." 

Fifty eight people have died in 53 road collisions between January 1 2024 and April 3 2024, according to data collected by An Garda Síochána. 

It marks a significant increase on last year's figures, when 42 people died in 39 collisions in the same time period.