Driving licence appointments needed at Trim offices

Junior Transport Minister Hildegarde Naughten has confirmed that the temporary Covid downgrading of all National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) offices across the State, including the offices in Trim, has now been made permanent, with the walk in service now permanently discontinued.

“The walk-in service previously available was originally discontinued to ensure social distancing and compliance with occupational and public health requirements,” she told Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara in the Dáil last Thursday evening, continuing: “the current NDLS contract, which was put in place with the front office service provider in 2021, no longer offers a walk-in service.”

She outlined that an online service is available for all application types but stated that a “verified MyGovlD account, which requires a public services card (PSC), is needed” to avail of the online service.

“This is despite a Data Protection Commission investigation into the legality of the Public Services Card which found that there was no lawful basis for a person to be told they needed the card for anything other than accessing social welfare or benefits,” Deputy McNamara stated.

In the Dáil, Deputy McNamara raised the issue of difficulties encountered by his constituents in availing of the NDLS service and explained to the minister that not everybody was able to go online.