Driving licence renewals
Deputy Healy-Rae described chaos over renewing driving licences and the burden on elderly and rural drivers forced to travel to NDLS centres. The Taoiseach said he would raise the issue with the Minister, followed by light procedural banter.
The expiry dates of many driving licences were extended during Covid, so if a driving licence originally expired during August this year, the expiry date was extended to December. These licences are now up for renewal. There is chaos trying to get a date to renew these appointments, as they are booked in advance. Elderly drivers and those with underlying health conditions would prefer not to have to travel to the National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, centres from places such as Cahirsiveen and Lauragh all the way to Tralee to renew their licence. There was previously an option to renew by post but this is now posing a difficulty because people are being advised to go online. Many of these people do not have a public services card and are not able to use the Internet. Since they have underlying problems, they ask that they be allowed to post in their applications. Moreover, there needs to be enough people there to deal with them.
Comment on this
I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I do not know if the Deputy raised the issue with him or not. They share many similar views.
Comment on this
The Taoiseach is mistaken about that.