Madam, - As it is the so-called "silly season", may I draw your attention to a silly story? It concerns the system for renewing driving licences, which contains an ingenious method for ripping off pensioners.
Non-pensioners can renew a licence for €25 and it is valid for 10 years; a bargain by any standards. It appears to be even better for drivers over 70 years of age because they are able to obtain a licence free of charge, but there is a catch. The powers that be have decided that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, seniors are not to be trusted and they must renew their licences every three years.
To do this, they have to undergo a compulsory medical examination to obtain a certificate of competence to drive - and here's the catch. The Irish Medical Organisation has unilaterally decided that doctors should charge for this service.
The "free" licence, therefore, costs something like €180 to €200 for a 10-year period - i.e. four medical certificates at, say €45 each, plus photography and postage, at present rates. In other words, about eight times the cost of standard renewal.
The driving licence renewal form D401 clearly states that all applicants are required to declare any physical or mental condition which might impair their driving ability. Older drivers, however, being the most experienced motorists - or perhaps the most skilful survivors - on the roads, are not capable of doing this because reaching the age of 70 suddenly blunts all physical and mental acuity, according to the bureaucratic view.
Your newspaper has done a great deal to highlight examples of the institutionalised ageism which is still alive and kicking in our society but, despite this, such prejudice is still a low priority with our leaders. I have been writing to the Department of Transport and the Department of Health for over a year now. I even wrote to the Office of the Taoiseach, but I have not raised any interest in rectifying what I see as a rather silly legislative error with very unpleasant overtones. - Yours, etc,
WILLIAM HEAP, Cuhig, Lauragh, Killarney, Co Kerry.