Letter from the Chief Executive of the DVA regarding renewal of licences for the over 70's

                                                                                                Driver & Vehicle Agency

                                                                                                Chief Executive’s Office

                                                                                                148-158 Corporation Street

                                                                                                  Belfast   BT1 3DH

                                                                                                  Tel: (028) 9025 4125

                                      

Joseph S Little                                                                    Your Ref:

Chairman Northern Ireland Group                                 Our Reference: CEQ381 

The Motorcaravanners' Club Ltd                                   Date: 17 April 2020

30 Oldtown Road                                                        

Bushmills                                                                     

BT57 8TY

Dear Mr Little,

I refer to your email dated 4 April 2020, regarding the renewal of a driving licence for one of your members who holds a driving licence with entitlement to drive categories C1+E and who is required to submit a medical report with the renewal application. You indicate that your member is having difficulty getting an appointment with a medical professional to have the medical report completed and you have asked if the DVA would consider extending the renewal date for this licence and that of other drivers in a similar position, given the current circumstances in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.

I am mindful of the impact that the current Covid-19 pandemic and the associated measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus, is having on drivers who are required to submit a medical report with their application to renew a driving licence with C1+E entitlements. Unfortunately, there is no legal cover that would enable an extension to the existing licence beyond the current expiry date.

At present, we are urgently seeking to find solutions to allow vocational licence holders, who are deemed to be providing essential services to ensure the movement of goods and provision of services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, to continue to drive. This may also provide a partial solution for some of your members.

I appreciate that this is not the response that you and your members were hoping for at this time, but I also trust that you will appreciate that we are required to be satisfied that driving licences are issued to drivers who meet the medical fitness to drive standards. We will of course keep the situation under review and as a resolution to the matter is known, we will implement as soon as practical.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Duffy

Chief Executive