John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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268. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter regarding the online renewal of driver licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13969/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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To renew a driving licence, an applicant is required to present photographic ID, evidence of PPSN, evidence of address and evidence of residency entitlement. An applicant can present in person at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) office where the required documentation can be examined and a face to face verification can be made.

When applying online, the same information is required and the challenge of verifying a person’s identity is more difficult than when someone presents in person at an NDLS office. A verified MyGovID account, which requires a Public Service Card (PSC), satisfies this requirement. A Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) is not an identity document. 

A further extension to the expiry dates of driving licences has been introduced in response to the continued disruption caused by Covid-19 to driver licensing services. The extension applies to different groups of licence holders including those who benefited from extensions in 2020, with extensions granted to at least 1 July 2021 and on into 2022. Details of the extensions can be found on the NDLS website www.ndls.ie.

It should be noted that an Irish driving licence can only be issued, under the applicable EU legislation, to a person residing in Ireland.