PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM Ukraine into Ireland will be allowed to exchange their driving licence for an Irish one, Eamon Ryan has confirmed.
Making the announcement, the Minister for Transport said the move will “make it easier” for Ukrainians fleeing the war to move around, access work, school or other public services in the Republic.
Minister Ryan signed the order today that will allow Ukrainians temporarily resident, under the Temporary Protection Directive, in Ireland to drive their cars in Ireland if they exchange their Ukrainian driving licence for an Irish licence.
The new licence will be valid for 12 months and will apply to cars only.
The move comes on the back of an announcement earlier this week that there will be increased and enhanced public transport services rolled out to support Ukrainians placed in more rural locations.
These new enhanced transport services aimed at supporting better integration are part of the broader Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.
Our Ukrainian guests deserve the freedom to move around easily, to access work, school & public services.
— Eamon Ryan (@EamonRyan) April 22, 2022
So today I have signed an order giving Ukrainian drivers the ability to exchange their Ukrainian driving licence for an Irish one
More details here:https://t.co/C4yxMjMvcQ pic.twitter.com/gLmpsIfFxI
In a statement, Ryan said: “After providing housing and shelter, one of the most important things we can do for our Ukrainian guests is to give them with the ability to move around easily, where they are located first, and then throughout the country, where they may have family and friends.
“This order allows Ukrainians to exchange their Ukrainian driving licences for an Irish licence on a temporary basis.
“It operates much like renting a car if we are in another country, for example, and comes with the same warnings that users must be acutely aware of the rules of the road in that country.
“I strongly urge anyone applying for an Irish licence to take time to familiarise themselves with the Irish road system.
I hope that this Order, coupled with the earlier move to increase and enhance public transport in certain rural areas, will give Ukrainians who have sought to find shelter in Ireland, greater freedom to explore our country, but importantly to be able to access work, school, college or to visit family and friends while they are here.
The move was welcomed by Ukraine’s ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko.
“Thank you Eamon Ryan for such quick response in resolving this important issue,” she tweeted.
Sam Waide, CEO of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), also welcomed the announcement.
“The RSA is providing information in Ukrainian on our website, and we will also update other relevant government and non-government organisations on the details of the licence exchange arrangements,” he said.
“The RSA will have a presence at ferry ports to provide information to Ukrainian refugees arriving by car and we are making arrangements to provide information for all refugees already in the country. The National Driver Licence Service, which is operated on behalf of the RSA, is also geared up to accept applications for licence exchange from Ukrainian refugees.”
An application to exchange a licence can be made in any National Driver Licence Service centre. An appointment to attend an NDLS centre can be booked online or by phone at 0818 919 090.
The RSA will also provide detailed information on driving in Ireland, including a detailed FAQ, for Ukrainian drivers which covers topics such as driving a car in Ireland and vehicle safety. More information is available on the RSA’s website.
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