Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
412. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the rationale for requiring repeated medical certification under the NDLS driver licencing process for individuals with clearly documented permanent physical disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28599/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe minimum standards of physical and mental fitness required to drive are determined by European Union legislation, with which Irish driver licencing laws must comply. The EU minimum standards of physical and mental fitness to drive are set out in national legislation, in schedule 6 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (SI 537 of 2006). This is amended as EU Directives update medical fitness rules in line with developments in healthcare and technology.
Applicants for a learner permit or driving licence must submit a medical report with their applications, as set out in regulation 41 of SI 537 of 2006. This ensures that people licensed to drive on our roads meet the high standards of safety, including driver fitness, set out at EU level.
Medical fitness to drive, including the appropriate duration of a driving licence, is determined by a person’s doctor. Where the doctor is satisfied that the condition is not progressive, there is no need to restrict the driver to a shorter licence term.
The Irish guidelines, Sláinte agus Tiomáint – Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines, are reviewed and updated regularly, most recently in 2025. The information in the Guidelines assists doctors and other healthcare professionals in advising their patients on fitness to drive and requirements for reporting to the NDLS and provide guidance on reviews of stability, progression or improvement in drivers' conditions.
