Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before speaking on my issue, I wish to compliment the two previous speakers. I concur with the sentiments they expressed. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting the issue I raise today, the implementation of the new driver licence service. I support the concept of the introduction of a credit-card-type licence, which is long overdue, particularly when we consider Irish drivers going abroad and international recognition of the licence. None the less, I am disappointed with some of the feedback I have received. I acknowledge the presence of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

In my area we are in a process of amalgamation of two local authorities, Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council, which between them had three motor tax offices, two of which could issue driving licences. One of those is gone. With regard to geography, some of the areas I represent are more than 60 km from the new centre in Limerick city. In the last week I have received evidence from the rural part of the constituency in particular that there were delays of up to four and a half hours at the Limerick centre. The Department and the Road Safety Authority might argue there are teething issues with the introduction of the new system, as there always are.

One can consider the midlands, where there are centres in Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon, Mullingar, Roscommon and Tullamore. Mullingar is 41 km from Tullamore and Longford is 30 km from Roscommon, 45 km from Mullingar and 36 km from Carrick-on-Shannon. Drumcolliher in my constituency is 69 km from Tralee and 50 km from Limerick, and Limerick is 102 km from Tralee. That distance traverses open spaces containing rural dwellers who find it difficult to access centres as currently proposed in both Limerick and Tralee. The other option is Cork city, which is even further away.

The centres are in urban areas with heavy footfall, but for people in rural constituencies and those who are not used to driving into cities such as Limerick, with the Parkway shopping centre, it is proving difficult to get to them. We know that suggestions were made to people in advance of the transition to the credit-card-type licence to hold off from applying for the licence. Others applied but did not have a licence issued under the last system. Those two categories of person are now in limbo, and it appears that large groups of people are potentially unlicensed.

There should be a number of actions. The resources available in existing centres should be examined in conjunction with the work of outreach or temporary centres such as those in Mayo and Galway. We must also consider the geographical area being covered. In Tipperary, although the two local authorities were amalgamated, the new national driving licence centre was not put in Thurles - in the middle of the county - but instead two centres are operating in Nenagh and Clonmel. What differentiates Limerick and the Kerry area in this respect? A person living in Cahirciveen or Sneem is expected to go to either Tralee or Skibbereen and travel over significant distances. I ask that the Road Safety Authority consider the amount of available space currently unoccupied within local authorities and other State agencies to see if outreach offices could be provided, particularly in larger counties.

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