On 12th January 2013, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) became the driver licensing authority for the State and has responsibility for the introduction of the plastic card driver licence. The RSA has decided to operate the service through three outsourced contracts to be managed by a specialist unit based in its headquarters in Ballina. The contracts will cover plastic card licence production, back office processing and front-office customer interface.
As part of the procurement process for the customer interface contract, all bidders opted to provide photographic images through digitally captured photographs.
The contractors will be fully mobilised to provide the required services later this year. In the meantime, motor tax offices will continue to accept driver licence applications, including paper photographs, on behalf of the RSA.