Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Local offices are very helpful in getting the card renewed and they facilitate the appointments with people. We are seeing that people are getting a letter three months in advance, notifying them of the card coming due for renewal, but that they cannot make an appointment for another two months. They will not be facilitated with an appointment until the card is within a number of weeks of the renewal date. That concerns people. They want to know that they can get their card renewed. It is only in the last number of weeks they can do so and then the pressure is on because if the card is not renewed on time, people might have concerns about their free travel, for example. The online option is good for many people, but some people are really hitting a wall with the photograph when applying online and having the correct aspect ratio on the photograph. People feel ambushed by this in terms of knowing whether the photograph is correct. Many people are frustrated by having to load it again and again. Some people end up having to go to the local office to ask for an appointment in this regard.

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