Over eight in ten (84.9%) people aged 18 years and over hold a current driving licence of some sort (full, learner permit, or non-Irish issued), up from 81.6% in 2021. More young males aged 18 to 24 years (76.7%) than females (73.4%) of similar age hold a driving licence of some sort, whether it be a full driving licence or a learner permit. Of these males, 70.4% held a full driving licence (Irish issued) compared with 62.6% of females of similar age.
For people aged 75 years and over, far more males than females hold a driving licence. Almost nine in ten (88.6%) older males aged 75 years and over said that they held a driving licence compared with more than six in ten (63.8%) females of similar age (See Figure 7.1 and Tables 7.1, 7.2, & 7.3).
Licensed drivers were asked for the type of driving licence they possess. For those with a licence, an Irish issued full driving licence is held by almost nine in ten (89.9%) licence holders aged 18 years and over.
At an overall level, 3.7% of driving licences held by males were non-Irish issued compared with 2.7% of females. One in eleven (9.1%) male licence holders aged 45 to 54 years had a non-Irish issued drivers licence compared with 1.3% of young males aged 18 to 24 years (See Table 7.3).
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