Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, outline the steps that have been taken to address the current oversight for driver licences that have expired but fall outside the four-month extension period from March to 30 June? Will she consider an extension for the cases of those whose licence expired in July but who cannot renew online or obtain a timely appointment at a National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, centre? Will she make a statement on the matter?

The issue that has arisen is that someone whose licence was due to be renewed on 30 June could get a four-month extension, whereas for people whose licence was due to be renewed on 1 July, their licences are out of date from 1 July. That is a major anomaly. I note that on 26 June an extension was given where learner permits were due to expire on 30 June, that is, where the expiry date falls from 1 July to 31 October. They have been given a further four-month extension. I am asking that the same be granted to people whose licences expired post 1 July. I have had such cases come to me in Limerick. People over 70 cannot apply online. They have to apply for an appointment online with the NDLS centre. One gentleman I heard from applied on 3 July looking to get an appointment at the Parkway Shopping Centre, in Limerick. His driving licence was due to expire on the same date. He has not been given an appointment until 25 August, so he is not able to drive legally in a car because he has no driving licence. That has to be amended. Even at that, he is required to go to Nenagh, which is some distance away. Furthermore, some people cannot apply online; I have made reference to those who are 70 years of age or older. The Minister of State could look to amend that.

What I am asking, and the desired outcome, is that the Minister of State extend the validity of licences expiring from 1 July onwards for a further three or four months. This would ensure that drivers could continue to use their vehicles while awaiting their appointments. Alternatively, the Minister of State should issue an instruction that proof of an appointment at a National Driver Licence Service centre is to be recognised as valid for driving by gardaí on discretionary grounds. I also ask that the Minister of State consider extending the online service to vulnerable people, such as people who are over 70, so they can avoid attending NDLS centres as a long-term measure to protect them from Covid-19. There is a need for a practical solution here. The key point is that the Minister of State should extend that period for a further four months in order that we do not have an anomaly whereby someone whose licence is up for renewal on 30 June gets a four-month extension and someone whose licence is up on 1 July does not. The person whose licence is up for renewal on 30 June can continue to drive, but a person whose licence is up for renewal the following day could be waiting up to eight weeks to get an appointment with the National Driver Licence Service while being unable to drive. There is a major anomaly. I hope to get news from the Minister of State that this will be changed tonight.

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