Dáil debates

Wednesday, 23 March 2022

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

National Car Test

9:52 am

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I ask that the NCTS website be updated with clear messaging about the extension in order to remove stress and panic for people when they are booking. It is encouraging that new staff will be hired. At least there is a sense that the NCTS is looking to fix the problem. Unfortunately, I believe the NDLS used the pandemic to copperfasten changes that are disadvantageous to the public such as insisting on non-cash payments and making it more difficult for people to get driving licences. That issue needs to be revisited. We should look at the post office network for driving licence provision. We have a network of more than 800 post offices throughout the country as opposed to a couple of dozen NDLS offices.

In the debate on the previous Topical Issue, it was mentioned that we are about to have a big population increase with people coming from Ukraine. Many of those people will be coming in their own cars. This will be an issue for driving licences. We do not have an agreement with Ukraine on the transfer of driving licences, something which needs to be fast-tracked. We will also need to have some kind of process for the NCT.

There is a lot to do, but this is having a real impact on people. It is an additional stress for people on top of major crises happening in our country, in our region and throughout the world. It is these pebble-in-the-shoe issues that the Government can solve and should solve. I ask the Minister of State to bring the issue to the RSA to try to get it resolved.

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