Driving licence centre closures
The Deputy objected to the move away from local licence centres and warned it would disadvantage people who cannot or do not use online services. The Taoiseach defended the RSA’s appointments system, said it had been successful overall, and promised to pass on the concerns.
Page 119 of the programme for Government commits that the State will become "closer and more responsive to citizens and their needs". Like Deputy Aindrias Moynihan earlier, I am concerned at the proposal to close all of the national driving licence centres around the country, thus putting all those people who are not capable of operating online, or who choose not to do so, into an invidious position where they will not be able to renew or source a driver’s licence. Is it Government policy to strip out services in the regions throughout the country? Based on the Taoiseach’s answer to Deputy Moynihan, I must say I am concerned that the Government in its job has become little more than the communications and PR wing of State agencies such as the Road Safety Authority, RSA. Will the Taoiseach commit to re-establishing this walk-in service for the elderly and vulnerable of the country or, at a minimum, will he direct the RSA to empower all post offices throughout the country to offer these walk-in services to people?
Comment on this
No, but I just want to make the point. We are not a PR agency for it or anything like that. This House legislated for and created that body on a statutory footing to reduce deaths and accidents on our roads and that has been a spectacular success, if one looks at what has happened.
Comment on this
I know. I have answered the question. I will make a further point. I will communicate to the RSA what Deputies Moynihan and MacSharry have said. I do not have the reply here with me but my recollection is clearly that it has moved to an appointments-based system. It is saying to the public that it will be doing this work by appointment rather than everyone having to queue up. It is saying that it has approximately 70,000 appointments scheduled and some 40,000 have been taken up. About 30,000 appointments could, therefore, be taken up.
It appears that the difference here is whether we just allow people to walk in or whether people ring up in advance and ask for a time slot. I will talk to the Road Safety Authority about it and refer back to the Deputies.