Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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139. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken to ensure sufficient capacity to deal with the applications for driver licences ahead of the UK's departure from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36041/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Since the UK decided to leave the EU, my Department and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has advised residents in Ireland with UK driving licences to exchange their UK driving licence for an Irish driving licence.

The RSA is responsible for the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS). All applications for learner permits and driving licences, including the exchange of UK driving licences, must be made through the NDLS.

The NDLS 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 has worked with their providers to create additional capacity needed, while adhering to the return to work protocol includng making additional evening and weekend hours available at many centres, the recruitment of additional staff, extending its postal service for those who are over 70 years of age, and an online service is available to a certain group of customers who are renewing licences and permits. The introduction of these steps will help ease some of the pressure on the NDLS, free up appointment slots and make it easier to find those slots at local centres.

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 RSA is working to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit applications to enable accessibility online rather than by calling to an office. The necessary legislative amendments to facilitate the online system have been made and the regulations came into effect on the 9th November. The NDLS plans to allow all application types to apply online from this week onwards. A Public Services Card and a verified MyGovID account will be required to access the online system.