Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018
514. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if media reports on the expenditure of €2 million by the Road Safety Authority in the design and building of an online application system for driver licences which involved the mandatory use of the public services card are accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23196/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra515. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if media reports of expenditure of €2 million by the Road Safety Authority in the design and building of an online application system for driver licences which involved the mandatory use of the public services card are accurate; if a new online application system is now being implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23197/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together.
The media reports were totally misleading. The expenditure referred to was incurred during the development by the Road Safety Authority of an online application system for driving licences. While the roll-out of this system has been delayed, the system is going ahead and the expenditure is not wasted. There was at no point any question of the system not going ahead. It is now due for implementation from 5 June 2018, rather than the original intended date of 30 April 2018.
It will be necessary for users of the online system to have a Public Services Card (PSC). This is because any online system must be underpinned by a robust 'real world' system of identity verification, which is in turn supportable through an electronic system. The Government's MyGovID portal provides this ID verification system for online applications, and is dependent on the PSC.
The PSC is not however mandatory for obtaining a driving licence - it will still be possible for applicants to apply through an office of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) using the ID verification documents already accepted. People who apply at an NDLS office may also use a PSC as ID if they wish.
