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

Having a smooth and reliable process for the renewal is so important. When people are getting their letter three months in advance they expect to be able to either do it online, or to be able to access the office locally. People are struggling to get appointments until they are much nearer the date of their card expiry. From what we understand, this is because of a large number of people. The card was introduced around ten or 11 years ago, so there is a large block of people coming towards the renewal at around about the same time. That is a predictable load, so there should be measures in place to deal with it. When a person gets the renewal done, the card is issued quite quickly. That is the positive part but getting to that renewal stage is where people have raised the issue of the photograph and also having to wait to get an appointment, even though they would have been notified three months in advance. It is a huge concern, particularly for people with the free travel. People really value the free travel and when it is available to them, they use it. Without the card there is a possibility that they would be stopped on the free travel.

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