Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1567. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the renewal of driver licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37682/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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There is no policy change involved.

When the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) was introduced in 2013, it was intended that an online renewal system would be available within 12 to 18 months. It would then have followed that people who had already had their photo captured at an NDLS centre would not need to appear in person at a centre again.

The online application will now be introduced next year in two phases, with the first targeted for March 2018.

Driving licences are issued for periods of 10 years, 5 years, 3 years, or 1 year. A person who had their photo captured at an NDLS centre for a 10- or 5-year licence will not come up for renewal before the online system is available (the NDLS centres went live in October 2013). I understand from the RSA that there is a postal renewal facility for people who have a 1-year licence, but that regretfully there are logistical difficulties with extending this to people with a 3-year licence, the period to which the Deputy refers.