New driving licence requirements will make it difficult for Irish people living abroad to renew or replace their licence according to Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish.
The new guidelines, which came into force on October 29, require a face-to-face application process in one of the NDLS centres around the country where a photo and signature are captured digitally. The Government has said the change is to combat fraud and to improve road safety.
However Dep Grealish is calling on the Department of Transport and the Road Safety Authority to put provisions in place to assist people living in other EU countries or on working visas abroad to renew their driving licence.
He said people who live abroad should be able to verify this, and have a family member attend an NDLS centre with a copy of passport and birth certificate to apply for a replacement licence.
“There are thousands of Irish citizens on working visas in countries all over the world,” said the Carnmore based TD. “Under the new rules, if their licence is lost or stolen they would be required to return to Ireland to replace their licence in person.”
Dep Grealish also plans to raise the matter in the Dáil
