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THE GOVERNMENT HAS confirmed there will be a further extension to the expiry dates of driving licences due to disruption caused by Covid-19 restrictions.
The extension will apply to different groups of licence holders including those who benefited from extensions in 2020.
Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, said the extension will address the concerns that drivers may have in renewing their licences as restrictions continue.
“Anyone who receives the licence extension will not be sent out a new licence,” she said. “The Road Safety Authority (RSA) which manages the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) will automatically update driver records to show the new expiry date.
“A letter will then be sent to every customer who is entitled to the extension, explaining that the expiry date of their licence is being extended. The RSA has also told Insurance Ireland and An Garda Síochána about the new expiry date of driving licences.”
The change will apply as follows-
Drivers who are affected by the extension are encouraged to check the new expiry date of their driving licence by using the expiry date calculator on www.ndls.ie. Enter the expiry date printed on your driving licence into the calculator and it will tell you the new expiry date.
Drivers who have been granted an extension and who have already booked an appointment at an NDLS centre, to renew their licence, are being asked to cancel the appointment, to make it available for others who need it.
National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centres remain open to essential workers.
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Madness, the real issue is the Social Service card requirement for ID renewal. Yet no need for it for passport renewal, RSA needs to rethink its renewal policy
@William Bryan: I just applied for a provisional truck licence online, really quick and easy system. You need the Public Service card because it is that photo they use on the new licence.
@Anita Pollard: What’s wrong with using the photo in ones passport?
@William Bryan: think it’s only when you renew online.
Tax on our cars should be suspended, many people who are forced to pay are really feeling the pinch
@Declan Edward:we using only 5km of roads and must pay full tax road insurance same is not fair we are not Together in this anymore
When you finally get back on the road you will find it has disappeared into cycle lanes, with left & right turns taken away with orange poles. Rush hour traffic will be great fun in the future. Delivery drivers can add on an extra hour work each day. Cyclists ignore half of them due to design flaws. Cannot see any school SUV dropoffs disappearing soon under the policy,build and they will come.
@Robert Robert: I don’t believe we were all in this together to begin with.. some more special than others!
Lots of things are no doubt being impacted by the current covid restrictions and circumstances, but exactly what prevents the issuing of a replacement licence to someone who’s licence has expired?
The only possibe point of human contact in dealing with the NDLS is in the NDLS centres and even that physical contact is hardly required, if it’s just a renewal of an existing expired licence.
This is in fact little or nothing to do with covid and actually a consequence of a broken licencing system from start to finish, which was further sabotaged by handing it over to a private company, instead of leaving it with the local authorities.
@David Van-Standen: dude Mto and local authorities wouldn’t have reached the standard required by our European partners…
@MunstersRebel: Dude, you mean like every other aspect of EU integration with our European partners, that didn’t require a private company to administer it?
I’m waiting for my licence 3 weeks now and I can’t start driving for my new job yet! This is very stressful as my new job could pull the plug. Rang NDLS to see if I could get bumped up the line as I come under the category essential worker delivering food to prisons, restaurants etc, no we can’t do a thing! This is not good enough NDLS!
Be handy if that calculator worked. My licence expires on 14/03/2021 and the calculator says “no extension applies” and that I need to renew now. According to article, I’ve an extension valid until January 2022.
@Liam O Sullivan: Same, calculator does not tie in with what’s in the article.
What about passports? Plus they only really last 9.5yrs as they have to have 6 months valid left on them before you travel to a lot of countries!
@Lydia McLoughlin: that 6 month thing is a guideline only, you can travel on your passport up to and including the date of expiry, if your passport expires whilst in another European country you’re legally allowed to travel back to your home country with the expired passport.
@Aviationdub: it really does depend on the country you’re travelling to though and generally being told to stick to the 6-mth in date as might be refused entry to that country! Knowing my luck I’d be stopped … https://www.google.com/amp/s/thepointsguy.com/2017/08/six-month-passport-validity-rule/amp/
Here’s a crazy, wild idea. How about letting people apply online without a Public Services Card? I’m employed, so can’t get one. And I can’t seem to renew my driver’s licence online without one. Just a thought
@Stop the Lights: You don’t need to be unemployed to get a public services card.
Why do you need expiry dates on driving licences at all. No such thing in Germany
@Johannes Baader: so they can extract more money from you for each renewal.
All public services is using now delays excuse is Covid…I get sick to hear this every time when you had a problem and try to fix it but they get full wages even rise in time without any delays for doing less than before
@Robert Robert: they get paid anyway, so why would they bother making an effort?
You do not need a public service card,this was legally challenged and confirmed you do not need it.Needs to be highlighted what they are saying.
Does the latest extension apply to learners permits too, I wonder – the NDLS website is not updated with any of this information………..
I got a provisional in 2019. Didn’t need PPSN card. That requirement was withdrawn then. I actively refused to apply until they lifted that requirement.
PSC is required for online renewal & I don’t think you can apply for a PSC online (I certainly don’t want one). I got apt 3 weeks ago (booked it end of Dec & calendar was very empty at the time for 2021). My license was out 11/03 and zero info info on extensions so it w as s concerning me. NDLS in Cork was VERY quiet, well setup, 5-6 cubicles, all with social distancing etc …less than 10mins in there and license posted out 10 days later.
have your say