Deputy Michael Healy Rae TD has condemned the actions of a local National Driver License Service (NDLS) office which refused to accept a payment of €35 in cash from a 75 year old man recently.
The man had to ring a friend to come and pay for him so he could receive his three year licence.
“The hurt and embarrassment caused to this elderly person, who had to ring a friend to pay for him is one of the meanest things I have heard in a long time,” said Deputy Healy Rae.
Illegal / Legal Tender
“How is it illegal to pay legal tender at a government department dispensing a vital service like a driving licence. I know that there were cashless measures brought in due to Covid concerns but surely they must revert back to pre Covid scenarios now and allow people who still use cash as their preferable way to pay as their option to pay,” Deputy Michael Healy Rae said in the aftermath of the incident.
Winding Down Cash
Currently payment at NDLS centres can only be made by Credit/Debit card or Google Pay/Apple Pay or Payzone vouchers. With no cash, cheques or postal orders will not be accepted. While more and more local Government Departments are now winding down cash payments.
“I would love to know when did this Government decide to reduce the possibility of paying cash for people.
Phone a Friend
“If they announced a few euro to open a building we would have all got press releases and invites to watch a Minister cut a ribbon, but when it comes to announcements that affect elderly people the most, there is no mention of it until you have a 75 year old at a counter being told to ‘ring a friend to pay for you’, this is not the Ireland we want for our older generation” Deputy Michael Healy Rae concluded
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