Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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612. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the difference between the identity validation process engaged in by a company (details supplied) on behalf of the National Driver Licence Service , NDLS, and the identity validation process used by motor taxation offices, on behalf of the NDLS between January and September 2013, when the latter administered the issuing of the new credit-card size plastic licences; and if there are sufficient differences between the two to justify the fact that licences issued between January and September 2013, are not now regarded as valid for the purposes of renewal by the NDLS, meaning individuals with licences issued between January and September 2013 by motor taxation offices must now present, in person, at an NDLS centre to have their licences renewed. [14325/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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From January 2013, the provision of driving licences in Ireland was centralised as the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) under the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  At the same time, and in accordance with EU requirements, Ireland introduced the new plastic card format of driving licence.

The NDLS operates through a central unit in the RSA, with three outsourced providers - a front office to engage with the public, a back office to process applications, and a card-producer for the plastic licence.

In January 2013, when the system first came into operation, the front office facility was not ready.  As a result, local authorities continued to provide front office facilities on behalf of the NDLS from January to October 2013.

Between January and October 2013 photos of licence applicants were provided by applicants and scanned by the local authorities and uploaded.  After October 2013, a statutory requirement was introduced for people to be validated in person by the NDLS and signature and photo captured in person. 

The intention behind the ID validation system in the NDLS is that once a person's identity has been authenticated, they should not need to visit an NDLS office to have their ID validated in person again.  However, this depends on the introduction of an online applications system which the RSA has advised is in development and is expected to be introduced in 2017.