Mayo workers returning from abroad facing 'blatant bureaucratic hurdles'

A Mayo TD has highlighted the fact the biggest difficulties facing Irish citizens returning home from working abroad are the cost of car insurance and applying for a driving licence.

Deputy Alan Dillon said he has received many queries from Irish people who are returning home to live from parts of Canada and the US and whose driving licenses are non-exchangeable.

The Castlebar-based representative stated: "While I welcome the announcement to authorise the exchange of Ukrainian driving licences for Irish driving licences, and it is great to see the National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, gearing up to accept applications for licence exchange from Ukrainian refugees, it is crucially important that the Department of Transport also reviews current procedures for Irish residents holding full licences that were issued in the US and parts of Canada and that we implement a similar exchange system in order that it is easier for them to return to Irish roads."

In response, Minister Eamon Ryan said he will following up on Deputy Dillon's query in terms of the provisions that will allow his department to accelerate and ease the cost for those people coming from Canada and the US to be able to swap their licences.

"It makes no sense for us to put blatant bureaucratic hurdles in the way of people we welcome into our country, be they displaced Ukrainian people, Irish citizens or others coming from the US and Canada," he added.