At present, a person seeking protection from war, violence, or persecution cannot get a driving licence in Ireland. Generally, people living in Direct Provision have so many restrictions on normal everyday life things like what to eat, where to eat, when to eat it, opening bank accounts and getting a driving licence. A driving licence is particularly important for applicants who have been granted permission to access the labour market and those who are self-employed. They need to get to work and many Direct Provision centres are in isolated areas. The Road Safety Authority refuses to issue driving licences to International Protection applicants on the grounds that they do not meet the residency requirement. That is ludicrous as an International Protection applicant is required to remain in Ireland while the International Protection Office processes their application. And it takes almost 2 years for them to issue a first instance decision on the application. It is irrational for the Road Safety Authority to say that a person who has lived in Ireland for 1-10 years in Direct Provision does not meet the residency requirement. In general, a non-EU/EEA national is required to present a GNIB/IRP card with a PPS card or passport to satisfy the residency requirement.

 The only document all International Protection applicants would be able to provide is a PPS card as passports are confiscated by the Department of Justice when a person applies for protection. The requirement of a GNIB/IRP card deliberately excludes International Protection applicants as such a card is only issued by the Department of Justice once an applicant receives a positive decision on their application for protection. The refusal to issue a driving licence makes life difficult for many International Protection applicants who live in Direct Provision centres that are not accessible through the public transport network. MASI- the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland calls on the Road Safety Authority to scrap their irrational residency requirement and issue driving licences to qualifying International Protection applicants.