Danny Healy-Rae urges postal renewals for elderly drivers
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in a parliamentary debate about driving licence renewals extended during COVID and the difficulties many drivers face booking appointments. He urged that elderly and vulnerable people be allowed to submit postal applications and asked for adequate staffing at NDNS to handle renewals.
Licence expiry extensions and appointments
The expiry date of licences that originally expired in August was extended to December during COVID, and those licences are now up for renewal. He highlighted difficulties getting renewal appointments, noting bookings are made well in advance and dates are hard to obtain.
Impact on elderly and vulnerable drivers
Elderly drivers and those with underlying health conditions would prefer not to have to travel to the NDNS from car places like Car Savine, Lark, all the way over to Chile to renew their licence. He stressed that travel and health risks make in-person renewals particularly burdensome for these groups.
Problems with online renewal and public service cards
He said there had previously been an option to renew by Porsche, but now people are being advised to go online. Many applicants do not have a public service card and are not able to use the internet, which leaves them unable to complete online renewals.
Request for postal applications and increased staffing
He asked that these drivers be allowed to post in their applications and that there be enough staff at NDNS to deal with the volume. The proposal was presented as a practical accommodation for elderly and vulnerable applicants who cannot or should not travel.
Follow-up and exchanges in the debate
He addressed a colleague named Debbie and said he would raise the matter with the minister. The remarks ended with brief personal exchanges during the debate.
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Thank you very much. Many drivers had the expiry date of their driving licence extended during COVID. So if a driving licence originally expired in August this year, the expiry date was extended to December. These licences are now up for renewal and it's this case trying to get a date to renew these appointments as they're booked at least ahead in advance. Elderly drivers and those with underlying health conditions would prefer not to have to travel to the NDNS from car places like Car Savine, Lark, all the way over to Chile to renew their licence. But before there was an option to renew by Porsche, but this is posing a difficulty now because they're being advised to go online. But many of these people do not have a public service card and they're not able to use the internet and because they have underlying problems, they're asking that they be allowed to post in their applications and to make sure that there is enough people there to deal with it. Thank you, Debbie. You have to go to the Router Time T-shirt. Okay, I'll talk to Minister Eamon Rhine. I don't know whether you've raised this issue with Minister Rhine or not. You share many similar views. He has no point in here. Ah, no, he could be here. And I know you share similar views on many issues. Alright, thank you very much. Well, you're mistaken, Dad.
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