Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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802. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the delay being experienced by applicants for driver licences, including replacement licences; if additional resources are being made available to the new national driver licence service to enable the backlog to be cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3808/14]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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803. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the delay being experienced by applicants for driver licences, including replacement licences; if additional resources are being made available to the new national driver licence service to enable the backlog to be cleared; the provision that is being made for drivers pending receipt of their licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3815/14]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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805. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the difficulties facing drivers who are awaiting renewal of their driver's licence and not in possession of a licence if stopped by gardaí and also if hiring a vehicle; his plans to allow a person to retain his or her driver licence pending the issuing of a new licence to address this situation; his plans to address the delays in processing renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3844/14]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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808. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to delays in issuing driver licences since the national driver licence service took over, whereby despite promising issuing renewal licences within eight days it now takes upwards of eight weeks; and his views on the matter. [3859/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 802, 803, 805 and 808 together.

The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). 

I  met 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 has been operating in a Pilot Phase which was successful.  This system will now be provided in all NDLS offices.

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.

The main reason people are asked to return old licences when renewing their licence is to provide assurance that the old licence is no longer in circulation.  Given the fact that driving licences are used for identification in many contexts, it is important to minimise the risk of identity fraud.  The best way to ensure that old licences cannot be amended in some way and fraudulently reused is for the State to require their return.     

This practice may raise concerns regarding the legal requirement to produce a licence when requested by a member of An Garda Síochána.  If the person cannot produce the licence at the time, the law allows ten days in which to produce it at a Garda station.  In most cases, if a licence is in process, this is sufficient time for the new licence to arrive.  Where it is not, the Gardaí may choose to exercise discretion.   

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