Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
251. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the work being done by his Department, and agencies under its remit, to facilitate, in line with the commitment under the Programme for Government, the easier return to Ireland for emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56797/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitment under the Programme for Government regarding the easier return to Ireland for emigrants, the Department has reciprocal driving licence arrangements with Australia and 7 out of 10 Canadian provinces. The Department is exploring options concerning the US.
US driver licensing is regulated at state, not federal, level. Ireland does not currently have agreements with any US state, as the previous RSA review indicated that complex exchange arrangements between states made it difficult to assess the standard of driving test passed by a licence holder.
The Department has liaised with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to identify states with large Irish born populations. Three US states, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey, have been chosen as the initial states for consideration due to the size of their Irish born populations. DFA and the Department have written to Governor Kathy Hochul of the state of New York to express Ireland’s interest in entering into a possible agreement.
DFA have informed the Department that while California has the second highest Irish born-population, they have advised that California does not directly exchange licences. Licence exchanges must be reciprocal therefore California cannot be considered at this time.
