Environment Minister Calls On London To Resolve DVA 'Issues'

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has said the Minister for Transport in London must deal with problems being faced by people in Northern Ireland over the licensing of vehicles, since the Drive Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea took on responsibility.

Minister Durkan said he had written to Minister Robert Goodwill over the issue.

All DVA offices in Northern Ireland, including the headquarters in Coleraine, closed to the public on 17 July this year.

Mark H Durkan said: "The responsibility for vehicle licensing now rests fully with the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea. Before this work transferred to Swansea on 21 July, we took every possible step to smooth the transition for people here.

"We worked hard to inform local people and the media that responsibility would rest with Swansea from 21 July. We helped people to understand how they could access these services. Nor can it be argued by Swansea that some data has been lost when services transferred. Swansea already held all the data.

"The public and the motor trade have raised concerns such as the time taken to get vehicles registered or taxed and also the difference in MOT testing periods between NI and GB. These concerns have been raised with Swansea and an immediate response requested for the customers involved.

"I am very disappointed and concerned about ongoing problems that people are facing. My officials have raised these concerns with Swansea and I have written to the Minister for Transport to highlight these problems and to make it clear in no uncertain terms that Swansea needs to up its game."

(IT/CD)