A Clare Active Retirement member has described the Road Safety Authority’s stance on cash payments as an insult to older people.
The RSA has this week announced that it will not be changing its cashless payment’s policy at NDLS centres until further guidance is “provided from government.”
Although the service offers free licence renewals for drivers aged over 70, data from Census 2022 shows that approximately 1,422 people in the 65-69 age bracket in Clare are living alone.
Quin man Eugene Phillips, who’s Active Retirement Ireland’s first Digital Ambassador, believes this group will be disproportionately affected.
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Statement from the National Driver Licence Service
The National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) ceased handling cash during COVID-19.
Cash handling introduces additional complexity, including security, safe storage, transfer to the bank and reconciliation. Alternative payment methods are readily available, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Payzone vouchers.
This policy is consistent with the most up-to-date Government guidance which advises organisations that currently accept cash to continue to do so, until a new National Payment Strategy is brought forward.
As the move to cashless payments at the NDLS predated this guidance, the RSA will not change the cashless model in place, until further Government guidance is provided to do so.
Customers requiring personal assistance to use the NDLS service are welcome to be accompanied by a person who can make a payment on their behalf. Separately, there is no charge for first time and renewal applications for persons aged 70 years and over .
The RSA will continue to follow Government policy in respect of guidance on cashless payments.
