Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before I discuss my Topical Issue matter I must thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for the fact that her colleague in the Department of Health did visit Cappagh Hospital. I just hope that some progress will be made there with regard to providing additional funding for the treatment of scoliosis and similar conditions.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, for coming to the House to take this issue. I wish to raise the necessity to fully reopen the National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, centre in Ennis to members of the public to provide a normal level of service. Some weeks ago in the Chamber we held a discussion on banking. It was slightly off topic but it was raised by the Minister of State's colleague from Carlow-Kilkenny, Deputy Phelan, and the discussion concerned the lack of services provided to elderly people by banks now. I completely and wholeheartedly agree with Deputy Phelan.

There are situations where such people are on the telephone and there is an option to dial 1 to wait for 15 minutes, dial 2 to wait a further 15 minutes, and dial 4 for your call to be terminated. It is leading to huge frustration for people and citizens across the State. It is bad when banks are doing it but these are private entities, although we bailed them out and so on. It is inexcusable and unforgivable when Government agencies and agencies of the State are providing that level of service. This is what is happening with the National Driver Licence Service centre in Ennis. It is located in what is commonly called the Tesco shopping centre across the road from Cusack Park in Ennis. People must book online and if a person cannot do so, they must use a particular telephone number. There are many people in the State who for one reason or another cannot book an appointment online. Then they must ring a telephone number.

I will give the Minister of State examples of a couple of experiences that have been brought to my office. One man of retirement age had to get his grandchild to make an online appointment for him as he could not walk into the centre. He received his appointment and attended the NDLS centre with his paperwork on Tuesday. The form was completed and signed, and his photograph was taken. Then, on Thursday of the same week he received a form in the post to be signed. He returned to the NDLS centre with the form but they would not help him. He was told that they were not in a position to help him so he had to email that for. Like other Deputies, I have a constituency office in Ennis. The man came to my office and we scanned and emailed the form. In my view, however, he should not have to do that. It was as simple as leaving a form in the door but they would not accept it.

In another case, a man from the west of the county took time off work to attend his appointment in the NDLS centre and he had his paperwork in place. He was told that they would not accept cash due to Covid. Now, everybody else is getting with it but the NDLS centre would not accept cash and this man did not have a card. He telephoned his wife and his wife gave him the card number but the centre would not accept that payment either because his wife was not present with him.

In another case, a woman in her 80s called to the office to say that she had been one and a half hours on the phone, that is, 90 minutes, trying to get an appointment. Eventually the call was terminated. Obviously I was not there with her and I do not know that she was a full 90 minutes on the phone but she has no reason to make it up. I also wish to give the details of something else, which I can verify. A woman of retirement age who does not have a laptop or a computer required her licence to be renewed. She was unable to contact the NDLS on the number given, which was the correct number. She called to our office, a member of my staff rang the number and was a full 45 minutes from 9:45 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on the phone waiting to get through and eventually could not get through to make an appointment. I put it to the Minister of State that this is not good enough.

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