Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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231. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the data in response to a parliamentary question regarding applications for drivers' licences and learner permits in 2012, if he is satisfied that an adequate presence of national driver licence centre in Limerick exists in comparison to the data relating to applications and distances from centres in counties Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon, which was raised with him by way of Topical Issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49993/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The choice of locations for the front offices of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and I have no role in it.  However, I do note that when locations were being considered,  there was a generally agreed principle of making the service available within 50 kilometres to 95% of the population, and I understand that this has been achieved.   

Under the front office contract, provided by SGS Ireland Ltd on behalf of the NDLS, customer services are offered at 34 full-time centres and 2 part-time centres around the country. They are open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. They also remain open through lunchtimes. These opening hours are more flexible than previously available. Furthermore, people will be able to use any of the offices to apply for or renew their licence rather than, as previously, just the centre in their own local authority.

As the Deputy is aware, the front office services provided by SGS Ireland Ltd. commenced only in the past few weeks and the level of service and location of centres will be kept under review.