Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 March 2014
505. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing delays for driving licence applicants; and the action he is taking to remove such delays. [10334/14]
View answerYes. The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The NDLS is structured with a central unit in the RSA and three outsourced contractors. These are: a card producer for the plastic card licence; a front office to engage with the public; and a back office to process applications.
There were problems with the speed of processing applications in the NDLS when the system came on stream last October. I have had regular discussions with the acting CEO of the RSA regarding the difficulties people have experienced, and how the RSA proposed to address them. The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened. Some were technical and systems issues, while others related to new staff becoming familiar with rules and processes around driving licences and permits.
The RSA responded by increasing resources in NDLS centres experiencing delays, as well as in the licence processing centre, and providing further training to staff. There are no major technical difficulties now affecting the service. A booking system to allow for customers to make appointments has been operating in a Pilot Phase which was successful. This system is now being extended on a phased basis to all NDLS offices.
While I understand that there are still some backlogs in relation to applications, the situation has improved. I have been informed that licence applications that are fully and correctly completed are being issued in a shorter timeframe than previously and work is continuing to achieve a ten-day turnaround currently, and a five- to eight-day turnaround by the end of March. The RSA has assured me that the remaining backlog largely has been cleared.
