Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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941. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if progress is being made to address the delays experienced by drivers applying for a renewal of a driving licence to the national driver licence service; if drivers are covered if they are stopped by gardaí in the meantime, taking into account the long delays that were not envisaged by the NDLS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1172/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  I met with the acting CEO of the RSA last month to discuss the difficulties people have experienced, and how the RSA proposed to address them. The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened for business on 29 October 2013.  Some were technical and systems issues, while others related to new staff becoming familiar with rules and processes around driving licences and permits.

The RSA has responded by increasing resources in NDLS centres experiencing delays, as well as in the licence processing centre, and providing further training to staff.  There are no major technical difficulties now affecting the service.  A booking system to allow for customers to make appointments is operating in a Pilot Phase and will be rolled out across the NDLS offices after 24 January.

While I understand that there are still some backlogs in relation to applications, the situation has improved.  I have been informed that licence applications that are fully and correctly completed are being issued within 8 days. The RSA has assured me that the remaining backlog will be cleared by mid-February.  The NDLS can also respond to urgent situations where a licence is needed for travel abroad or for work purposes.

I understand that the NDLS has advised the Garda of the delays with issuing some licences.