Ending of NDLS walk-in facility causing problems for older drivers

Changes to the contract for the provision of Driving Licence Services which mean centres, including Trim, no longer offer a walk-in service and no longer accept cash, are causing problems for many older people according to Summerhill-based Third Age Centre.

The walk-in service temporarily ceased in March 2020 due to the Covid pandemic but it recently emerged that the walk-in service has been scrapped under the new National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) contract agreed last year.

While welcoming the news that under 75s need no longer supply a medical report when applying for driving licence renewal, Anne Dempsey, Communications Manager, Third Age, Summerhill, said that being unable to walk in and renew the licence in person is causing problems.

"Our members tell us they can’t get through on the phone. They are being told to apply online and many older people are disadvantaged if they live alone, don’t have computer access or have nobody to show them what to do," she said.

Ms Dempsey said another issue that older people are discovering is that they can no longer pay for their driving licence by cash.

"That is an extra difficulty. While we are becoming a more cashless society, many older people still rely on cash to pay their bills and manage their money. Many callers to SeniorLine living on a social welfare pension have to watch the pennies. A minority still do not have a bank account. Paying by cash as they go along, gives a sense of control and allows people to budget and plan," she said.

Ms Dempsey says the concentration of online services only by so many institutions and public utility companies is progressively marginalising many older people and interfering with their ability to take control over their lives and financial affairs.

"Even getting through on the phone is proving problematical. One of our SeniorLine callers told us this week she needed to cancel a cheque which had become lost in the post. She phoned her bank, kept being directed to the website, and then held on for a long time before giving up," she said.

Staff at the Third Age Centre are proving to be a lifeline to members in assisting them with other motoring needs such as taxing their car, booking a NCT, as well as applying for a driving licence.

SeniorLine is Ireland's national confidential listening service for older people open every day 10am to 10pm Freefone 1800 80 45 91.