Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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298. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if National Driver Licence Service centres can remain open during level 5 restrictions; if driver licences that are due to expire will now be extended in view of the heightened restrictions; and if persons who have booked to take an appointment in another county can now do so. [32430/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under Covid19 Level 5 Government restrictions effective from midnight on Wednesday 21 October, for six weeks, applicants can attend an appointment at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centre provided they are an essential worker involved in the provision of essential services or essential retail outlets. Details on what is included in the list of essential workers and retail outlets is available on www.gov.ie.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is continuing work to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit application types to enable accessibility on-line rather than by calling to an office. The NDLS hopes to allow all application types to apply online by mid-November.

There is no plan to further extend the validity of driving licences. Irish driving licence law is based on a framework of EU law, and the current extensions bring us into line with the EU legislation.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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299. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a process has not been reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32432/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), resumed services in June, following the closure of the centres due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. All appointments must be booked in advance as it is not possible to facilitate any walk-ins due to the social distancing requirements, and in the interest of protecting the staff and customers. This, of course, has led to an increase in the demand for appointments.

The RSA is working with their providers to see how they can create the additional capacity while adhering to the return to work protocol. Options being introduced include a combination of additional staff, extended and additional operating hours (i.e. Sundays where needed), and the provision of overtime.

The NDLS booking system is undergoing software changes to cater for the expanded booking window associated with the additional NDLS appointment slots. The introduction of these steps may help ease some of the pressure on the NDLS, free up appointment slots and make it easier to find those slots at local centres.

The RSA is also continuing work to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit application types to enable accessibility on-line rather than by calling to an office.The NDLS hopes to allow all application types to apply online by mid-November.

Under Covid19 Level 5 Government restrictions effective from midnight on Wednesday 21 October, for six weeks, applicants can attend an appointment at an NDLS centre provided they are an essential worker involved in the provision of essential services or essential retail outlets. Details on what is included in the list of essential workers and retail outlets is available on www.gov.ie. The RSA does not hold details that would identify the employment status of any applicants among those who have a booking at an NDLS centre over the next six weeks, therefore no cancellation of existing bookings will be made.