Irish citizens travelling to Georgia to obtain a fast-track driving licence in loophole
Tonight Prime Time on RTÉ will explore how Irish citizens were travelling, in an agreement the that is no longer in operation.
Last week, Prime Time travelled to a driving school in Rustavi, a city near the Georgian capital Tbilisi, to look into the trend. Many Irish people travelled there after contacting Mika Vincheuski, a Belarusian living in Georgia who facilitates driving lessons and arranges test dates for non-Georgians who want to get their licence quickly.
'It's a fully legal process,' said Ms Vincheuski.
'People arrive in Georgia, take lessons, pass the tests, and get their licence. We just help them navigate the system.'
Georgia's fast and efficient process for driving tests has brought people to the country from all over the world, including some from Ireland.
Some companies offered licenses to Irish people in approximately 14 days, with applicants completing a theory test, parking exam and city driving exam for approximately €800.
Currently, the average waiting list in Ireland to get a driving test appointment is over 20 weeks. This is after you have completed a theory test, applied for a learner's permit and completed 12 lessons over the course of several months.
Ireland is also experiencing a large backlog of driving test applications with more than 83,000 applicants waiting for a driving test in April.
Prime Time met a number of Irish people who were in Georgia, who explained why they chose to make the journey. Among those who travelled to the country was Laura, who had passed her motorcycle test and received her licence. She plans to exchange it for the Irish equivalent within weeks of returning home.
"I did the motorcycle one, so it's been a success three days in: theory on the first day, on the third day then I did my test - passed, licence in hand," she said.
Prime Time has since learned that this process has been officially closed. The Georgian Ministry for Internal Affairs has confirmed to Prime Time that new legislation was enacted last week, requiring applicants for Georgian driving licences to have resided in the country for a minimum of 180 days. This move effectively halts a workaround increasingly used by Irish people facing long delays in the Irish driving test system.
The programme will also feature a follow-up to RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Your rights if hotel refuses to serve Irish food on your holiday abroad
With the summer holiday season fast approaching, many people across Ireland are preparing for long-awaited sunshine getaways. But for one traveller, a dream trip turned into what she describes as a complete "nightmare". Susan Edwards, 69, from Westerhope in Newcastle upon Tyne, paid €890 for a seven-night all-inclusive holiday at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel in Greece. She had been looking forward to relaxing with her family, enjoying warm weather, good food and a much-needed break. Instead, she found herself "sick to death of looking at rice" as the largely local food menu left her group frustrated. Susan claimed there was "no English food" available, telling Newcastle Chronicle: "It was all-inclusive, £750 (€890) each we paid and there was no food we could eat. I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there's certain things I can't eat. "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg or something in sauce. There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. "We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn't eat that. It's the worst holiday I've ever been on." After lodging a complaint with TUI, the holiday provider offered her £100 (€119) in travel vouchers - which she has since declined. Now, consumer rights expert Helen Dewdney, also known as The Complaining Cow, is weighing in on the issue and what Irish travellers can do if they feel misled on a package holiday. In Ireland, package holiday rights are protected under the EU Package Travel Directive (EU 2015/2302) and the Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act 1995. In the UK, they are covered by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Helen told Mirror UK: "A package holiday consists or two or more components, such as accommodation and flight or transfers, and must last longer than 24 hours or at the very least have an overnight element. The organiser (i.e. the travel company with which you booked) is liable for the failures of hoteliers, suppliers and services within the contract. "The organiser must not provide misleading information. If the holiday does not match the description, you will be entitled to redress. The organiser must clearly state the details of the booking in a Standard Information Form, before you make any payment. The Form must include specifics of any arrangements: dates, times, costs, meals, excursions included/excluded, activities, transportation, cancellation fees, contact details for the package organiser, information on compulsory/voluntary insurance regarding repatriation in the event of illness/death/accident, and/or the cost of termination of the contract by the traveller." She added: "You are entitled to redress for the disappointment and distress caused by things going wrong. The amount will be dependent on what and for how much of the holiday. Make sure you take out travel insurance at the same time you book your holiday. You never know what might happen between now and then!' "Is it reasonable to claim for a lack of 'English food' on a continental holiday? Probably not. However, at least one TUI customer has succeeded in claiming limited compensation for this alleged breach, although she has got to buy another holiday to use it!" A spokesperson for TUI UK and Ireland said: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution."
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Photos from Cork show all the exciting action of the International Horse Trials in Millstreet
With 15 countries participating, favourable weather bar a shower or two made for a hectic atmosphere in the picturesque Green Glens Complex and Drishane Estate. Some of the best horses and riders in eventing circles descended on the North Cork location by ferry and truck with visitors drawn from the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and across Europe. The picturesque setting against the backdrop of Clara Mountain and Drishane Castle was a perfect amphitheatre for cross country with dressage and show jumping hosted in the adjoining Green Glens Complex. 'We are overwhelmed and delighted that so many international riders are coming to Millstreet, it was the largest entry since the event commenced in 2015, the arrival of so many leading figures in the international eventing world is a major highlight in the Irish calendar and we have been working hard to ensure some great competitions and a fun weekend,' said Event Director Thomas Duggan. Upwards of 400 horses were in Millstreet, riders included double Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo and Paris Laura Collett, the Great Britain rider is a MBE recipient for her pursuits on the world stage. Collett was joined by compatriots Emily King, Izzy Taylor, Max Warburton, Jack Pinkney, Harry Horo and Gemma Stevens. Stevens figured prominently in a number of categories and savoured the Millstreet atmosphere. 'What a weekend in Millstreet, to enjoy success here is something quite special at a great venue. For me, it's also such a relief to win on the Irish bred Flash Cooley because I've been second in a CCI4*-L class four times', she said. Australian Kevin McNab, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics is a popular visitor to Millstreet, amongst his strong line up was Newmarket Amy, bred by the Scarteen Equine Farm in Newmarket and sold to Co. Meath based Rhiannon Burton with McNab becoming the regular pilot. En route to Millstreet, the pair enjoyed success at the Strzegom Show in Poland, a podium place also in Millstreet. Four time Olympian Austin O'Connor was back in familiar territory, the Mallow native and UK-based rider delivered one of his finest performances to date at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials recently, finishing third overall aboard his long-time partner Colorado Blue. The Drishane Cross Country course saw new developments, the terrain bedded in well over recent months, new fences and a reshaped water development adding to the appeal against the backdrop of Clara Mountain with Event Director Thomas Duggan accepting the plaudits. 'We are thrilled that so many international competitors want to come here to educate their horses and enjoy the superb courses and footing here. 'It has been such a successful showcase for the Irish Sport Horse,' he said. Equestrian excitement returns to Millstreet next month for the Pony and Young Rider Show from July 3-6 with the Millstreet International CSI2* Horse Show scheduled from July 23-27.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Three new family-friendly summer events that kids will love from obstacle courses to circus classes
AS June emerges and the school summer holidays loom, The National Trust has revealed its top events for the summer. From houses to gardens, The National Trust has hundreds of sites - all with different histories and stories. Advertisement 5 The National Trust will be hosting 'Summer of Play' across 180 places this summer Credit: ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris Across 180 National Trust places for the six weeks of the school summer holidays, there will be Summer of Play. This includes gardens and parks jam-packed with free drop-in activities and playful experiences. Some venues will have mini stages, others will have meadow mazes. Families will also be able to build dens, experiment in Advertisement Read more on activities Summer of Play activities are included within admission and there's no need to book. Tom Freshwater, head of visitor programming at The National Trust has picked out some of the Summer of Play at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland Seaton Delaval may have been one of the architect Sir John Vanbrugh's smallest country houses, but it was home to the larger-than-life Delaval family. Tom explained: "Known as the 'Gay Delavals' due to their high spirited and flamboyant lifestyle, an invitation to one of their parties was the hottest ticket in town. Advertisement Most read in News Travel "In an age notorious for extremes of behaviour, they stood apart as the most notorious of all Georgian partygoers and pranksters. "Like a party from the Delavals' Georgian heyday, expect the unexpected with pop up Summer of Play activities throughout the summer." The pretty pink UK castle that is loved by Disney and Britney Spears There will be drop-in In addition, children can head to the Delaval Playdium play area with multi-level stages, pulleys and leavers which allow 'productions' to be brought to life. Advertisement Tom added: "See who's competitive in hobby horse races, or delve into a chest full of sports kit and ball games, plus table tennis and badminton and traditional games like tower block building or four-in-a-row." Also, every Friday in the Community Kitchen Garden, there will be the chance to harvest and get crafty with nature - or curl up in the sheltered story corner, with Young Gardeners. 5 Activities include crafting, outdoor games and book nooks Credit: ©National Trust Images/James Dobson Summer of Play at Chirk Castle, Wrexham Steeped in 700 years of history and nestled in the atmospheric Welsh Marches, Chirk Castle is a magnificent 13th Century Medieval fortress that later became a family home for over 400 years. Advertisement Tom shared: "With far-reaching views over the Cheshire and Shropshire plains, 480 acres of working farmland and 4.5 acres of award-winning gardens, Chirk's estate makes for a stunning backdrop to the perfect summer adventure. "And of course, no visit would be complete without an exploration of the Medieval castle itself, with This summer, families can head to Chirk Castle's Big Play Adventure - an 5 There will even be opportunities to harvest from gardens or participate in a hobby horse race Credit: ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris Advertisement There will be four "Each zone is packed with interactive activities designed to spark imagination and encourage active play," Tom added. "From den building and designing your own obstacle course to relaxing in the "Finish your adventure by climbing the straw bale lookout posts to admire your creative efforts from above." Advertisement Summer of Play at Hanbury Hall, Worcesterhsire Hanbury Hall is a country retreat in the heart of Worcestershire. "This year's Summer of Play [at Hanbury Hall] is inspired by the magnificent wall paintings inside the Hall, and the 5 There will be areas for smaller children too Credit: ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor "Challenge your family to play traditional fete games including coconut shy, hoopla, and tin can alley. Advertisement "Dance around a giant maypole, dress up as historic characters and put on your own show, and get your heart pumping with games of football , badminton, and cricket ." Amongst the activities, there will also be opportunities for smaller children to let off steam , including a Events include circus skills, face painting and bracelet making too. The National Trust also recently revealed its Advertisement Plus, 5 All activities will be included in admission and do not need to be booked Credit: ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor
