Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the provision that has been made regarding photo capture for the new driver licence; if he will consider the points made in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16530/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In January of this year, a centralised National Driver Licensing Service under the Road Safety Authority (RSA) came into effect.  The legislation to give authority over driver licensing to the RSA was passed in 2012. The new licensing system involves three outsourced contracts, managed by a specialist unit based in RSA headquarters in Ballina.  The outsourced elements are: a card production facility, a front office for engaging with the customer, and a back office to process applications.  This system will not be fully up and running until September of this year.  In the meantime, local authorities continue to perform front office functions on behalf of the RSA. The Deputy may wish to note that, during this transition period, applicants can still provide their photos as before. Once the new system is fully operational, the only option will be the digital photo taken at the front office network.  I understand from the RSA that when they published the Request for Tenders for the front office they asked tenderers to put forward a preference for scanning or digital capture.  All three tenderers went for digital capture, as it is the most effective, secure and efficient process. The operation of the tender processes was a matter for the RSA, and I had no involvement in it.  The contractors for the front office, and the back office and card producer, have already been procured.