The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) has been awarded the UK government's Customer Service Excellence Standard award.

The award is presented to organisations that demonstrate efficient and effective service and put the public at the heart of its delivery.

The award comes at a time when over 300 DVA jobs are under threat.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "This is good news for the hundreds of thousands of DVA customers who continue to get a quality service from professional, dedicated staff. It is especially good to see that the Agency is continuing to improve on its already high standards in this independently and externally accredited award. The Agency has been judged to be fully compliant in 44 of the categories of service delivery assessed and to be an example of best practice in the remaining 13 categories and has been awarded the rare distinction of a 'compliance plus' grade."

The Minister concluded: "It is particularly significant given the high standard of service provided by DVA to motorists in Northern Ireland is under threat by DVLA’s proposals to close all of the vehicle licensing offices here and to carry out this work remotely from Swansea. I have opposed this proposed centralisation very robustly and I am waiting for a decision from the relevant Minister in the Department for Transport in London. As I have pointed out to the London Government, it would be totally wrong to take this excellent local service away and to reward the excellent service provided by motor tax staff here by taking away their jobs."

(IT/MH)