Written answers

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Driver Licences

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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198. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is another option for vulnerable persons turning 70 years of age to renew their licences if they are not deemed eligible for a postal application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36275/20]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Road Safety Authority (RSA) , through the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), has expanded the current online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit applications to enable accessibility online rather than by calling to an office. A verified MyGovID account, which requires a  Public Services Card, will be needed to access the online system.

For those calling to the NDLS centres, I wish to assure customers that the centres have been assessed and measures have been put in place to align with the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocols.  Appropriate signage, sanitation and hand washing, and social distancing measures, such as reduced seating in waiting areas and customer touch point cleansing, have been introduced. Customers will be accompanied into and out of centres and will be required to adhere to necessary health and safety guidelines.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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199. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a driver licence renewal for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36283/20]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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All applications for a driving licence must be made through the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS). The Department of Transport cannot schedule such appointments.

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. The RSA has worked with their providers to create additional capacity through a combination of additional staff, extended and additional operating hours (i.e. Sundays where needed), and the provision of overtime.

Applicants who can avail of the newly extended online service have been asked to cancel appointments they may have made at an NDLS centre. This, and the steps mentioned above, will help ease the pressure on the NDLS, free up appointment slots and make it easier to find those slots at local centres.

Any queries in relation to driving licences or urgent cases can be addressed to the NDLS customer service at 0761087880 or by emailing info@ndls.ie.

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