All enquires relating to driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority under the relevant legislation.
I understand there are no substantial delays in booking appointments to attend in person at NDLS front offices around the country. Of the 78,000 available appointment slots over the next six weeks, just over 17% (approximately 13,400) have been booked, leaving 83% (nearly 64,000) available. There is availability in all centres over the next three weeks, with most centres offering an appointment in seven to eleven days.
It is no longer an option to attend at an office without a prior appointment. Having an appointment gives certainty to customers and prevents overcrowding, queueing and long waits. In fact, the previous non-appointment service generated complaints from the public because of waiting times and delays. Appointments can be booked by telephone on 0818 919 090, as well as online at ndls.ie. A public services card (PSC) is not required to book an in-person appointment.
A PSC is only required when applying for or renewing a learner permit or driving licence online. The PSC is used to confirm a person’s identity and image in place of a face-to-face verification. My department has no oversight over the allocation of PSCs. This is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
