Drivers must renew licences at service centres from today

A new process for the renewal of drivers licences in Ireland comes into effect from today.

The new service will see drivers having to travel to one of 34 National Driving Licence Service Centres across the country.

An Post had applied to be considered as a place of renewal, but their bid was unsuccessful.

President of the Irish Postmasters Union, Ciaran McEntee, says the new system is going to cause a lot of inconvenience.

"There are only 34 centres all over Ireland," he said.

"Some people have to travel 102km to renew your licence. In Cork, in Donegal, the same, and it's costing people a lot of money.

"People have to present themselves at the area. An Post was offering 130 centres … [with] 90% within a 20km radius."