Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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86. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to extending driver licences due to expire in the coming months to reflect the significant backlog in available appointments nationally created by Covid-19 for those in situations that will not allow them to renew online, such as residents who were born outside of the EU. [27839/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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It is not my intention at this time to further extend the validity of driving licences.

The existing extension of 7 months for licences that expired between March and August will ease the pressure on the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), free up appointment slots and make it easier to find those slots at local centres. The extension brings Irish national law in line with EU legislation.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is working with their providers to see how they can increase capacity at NDLS centres while adhering to the return to work protocol. Options under consideration include extended opening hours, overtime and protective segregation barriers between booths.

Work is also continuing to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit application types in a manner that does not undermine the existing legal framework or the effective operations of the stakeholders involved.