Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2020
237. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 12 November 2020, the rationale for the requirement to have a public services card to access the national driver licence service, NDLS, online system; the legislative or statutory provision on which the requirement is based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38103/20]
View answerA person applying for a driving licence or learner is required to present photographic ID, evidence of their Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), evidence of address and evidence of residency entitlement. When an applicant presents in person at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) office, the required documentation is examined and a face-to-face verification is done.
The same information is required when accessing the online system, and the PSC satisfies this requirement as the information has already been provided and verified by another Government department. Without a PSC, it is not possible to access the online system.
Regulation 54 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulation 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006), as amended by Regulation 2(c) of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 98 of 2018) allows for the PSC to be provided as evidence of identity when applying for a driving licence.
