Mattie McGrath slams NDLS chaos as 'dehumanising' system
Mattie McGrath spoke about failures in the NDLS and driving licence arrangements, arguing the system is chaotic and dehumanising. He criticised delays caused by private companies, the growth of unelected quangos and the impact on vulnerable people and transport services.
Main criticism
McGrath told the House the NDLS rollout has been a shambles, describing people being dehumanised by long waits, unanswered calls and a system that puts private companies between citizens and services.
Problems with NDLS and private companies
He said three different private companies were involved in parts of the licence process, with material shortages and delays. County council staff were praised for going beyond their duties to assist citizens while the central arrangements failed.
Quangos and accountability
McGrath criticised the expansion of unelected bodies, noting the RSA and NRA functions moving to the TII, and argued these 'quangos' had grown without public accountability and respect for the House.
Impact on vulnerable groups
He raised concerns for people without broadband, those with learning difficulties and the elderly, saying the changes denied help to young people and made life harder for older citizens who rely on local services.
Transport and driver shortages
McGrath warned of practical consequences for bus and school transport, citing restrictions on older drivers and difficulties recruiting drivers. He also questioned rules that would prevent some arriving drivers from taking up driving in Ireland despite being permitted elsewhere in Europe.
Local support and volunteers
He thanked county council staff, a member of his own office and a voluntary group who helped young people with learning difficulties to take theory tests, stressing community efforts filled gaps left by the system.
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Government are good, I too want to thank Deputy Mayor for bringing forward this very timely and very very important motion, we're just dehumanising people and that's what's going on in this Government, I'm up here for 14 years now, every whole thing we've done, I couldn't believe when this NDLS came out first, three different companies actually have a part, or private companies to pay for you to get your licence and one of them couldn't get the materials to make it, there were delays then, it's a shambles minister, I thank the County Council staff who help people, beyond, above and beyond, when you took your ticket, at least you saw a movement, you saw people, you saw people smiling faces, not ringing up and getting no answers, the people in these offices are under pressure, look we de-commissioned the IRA, and we have the RSA and we have the NRA, they've gone now to the TII, but these are just unelected, unaccountable, a quangle, they've set up like mushrooms, and they're growing and growing and going and expanding, and they have no respect for the public consensus, no respect for this House, all they want is their big officer, breastplate on the door, and the chief executive, and the chairman and everything else, and a board of course, and all jobs for the boys, and to hell with the dean on the TII, the people of Rhode Island especially, what if you don't have broadband, if you're able to use it and don't have broadband, which many of us don't, what if you can't use broadband, you're dehumanising this situation, making life hell for people, I don't know how we'll get multinationals into this country here, because they come in here from all over the world, and they can't drive here, they'll do a theory test, what an gracious insult, that people can drive in Manhattan, and drive all over the world, and come in here, I want to thank Geraldine in my office, who deals with this, and I want to thank the, there was a voluntary organisation, Tom Mel, helping young people with learning difficulties, they do the theory test, look, all these tests were there, when we did it, they're there now, so Mull and all they get on this choking sheet, we're not praising the young, we're denying them, but we're killing, and perishing our elderly population, bus drivers can't be got, they have a ruling over 70, they can't drive, they can drive private buses, or the matches, but they can't drive to school, we're crying out for drivers, now they tell us that they're unfortunate drivers that are coming here, from the war, and won't be allowed to drive in Ireland, they can drive in other European countries, what is wrong with this little quango republic, it's shameful, thanks
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