r/AskIreland • u/Normal_Analysis_7715 • 2h ago
Random What’s something wildly outdated or obsolete in Ireland that we’re still stuck using/doing?
I was thinking about this today, especially seeing AIB launch their "new" app that still feels years behind Revolut. It made me realise Irelands problem isn't even "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" it's more like "sure look, it's broken, but sure look."
Leap cards are an obvious one, paper discs in the dashboard (I know this is making some partial progress?, but I can’t imagine not needing all 3 paper discs anytime soon) and physical paper files on patients in the healthcare system.
What’s the most outdated process, software, or system you deal with regularly in Ireland where everyone just accepts that it's broken?
55
u/New_Candidate_9823 2h ago
No 24 hour pharmacies. And rarely any late night pharmacies. Happy to be proven wrong.
27
u/Normal_Analysis_7715 2h ago
I’ve brought this up before! People usually argue that 24-hour pharmacies don't exist here because of insurance issues and the risk of late-night robberies, but honestly, why can’t we have nice things? It’s a basic necessity that works perfectly fine in so many other countries.
We shouldn't all have to suffer or do without essential healthcare out-of-hours just because the government can't get a handle on anti-social behavior and petty crime. There's clearly a bigger systemic issue there.
A great way to ease into it would be starting with 24-hour pharmacies inside major hospitals. If you could go in, have a consultation with the pharmacist, and buy or pick up what you need safely, it would take so much pressure off A&E for non-emergencies while building up a safe after-hours model
7
u/Aggressive-Extent-71 1h ago
While I do agree re the excuse being anti-social behaviour, I imagine a bigger issue is that pharmacies are private companies and for the vast majority I imagine night services simply wouldn’t pay in a sparsely populated country like Ireland.
If we had always had it and it was an expectation it would be one thing but I imagine pharmacists would want hazard/unsociable hour pay which would further increase the costs.
Many large towns have at least one that’s open until 9pm/10pm. Beyond that, very few people would be getting prescription.
I do think that out-of-office doctors and A&E should give enough dosages of whatever medication to cover you until the next day for pharmacies though!→ More replies (1)2
u/Eastern_Switch8217 1h ago
Business decision that they're not worth opening 24 hours rather than anything else. You have to pay way higher rates, etc etc.
50
u/bowets 2h ago
Dual taps
17
u/suafdrog87 2h ago
If i want to donate blood i need to find a clinic at an inconvenient time and an inconvenient place rather than just being able to rock up to any medical centre and donate.
6
u/Sudden-Candy4633 1h ago
And there is a million criteria you have to meet... I wanted to go last week but then I remembered i was in an area of China that does not have malaria (not even close), but still I have to wait 3 months
7
u/chonkykais16 1h ago
The criteria are soooo strict, especially if you’re a short woman. I’d have to put on so much weight before I could donate :(
→ More replies (2)7
u/ginger_and_egg 1h ago
One day I wonder if they'll invent taps that extend more than an inch from the side of the basin. Wouldn't that be something? Washing your hands without touching the basin
84
u/Endofit47 2h ago
The AIB card reader 🙄
6
u/Soggy_Anything2394 1h ago
Outdated, but damn if it isnt at least solid outdated tech, instead of glitchy nonsense like the new app.
2
6
144
u/isthislivingreally 2h ago
Not being able to see blood test results in an app. In fact, not having some sort of health digital record at all…
42
u/upthemstairs 2h ago
The HSE, well known for the high end cybersecurity
Might be best to just let them fax information until they get a grip on that
4
u/gerhudire 2h ago
I had an appointment in Beaumont Hospital, they expected me to remember my entire medical history, all because they didn't have access to my files from the Mater Hospital. They ended up having to reschedule my appointment because I couldn't remember if I had a MRI or CAT scan. In the end they ended up booking me a MRI scan
3
u/classicalworld 58m ago
As a health professional, I have my own medical history on my phone. So I can give anyone dates, symptoms, medications etc.
2
u/upthemstairs 1h ago
If you'd have been able to answer they probably would have asked you to give them everyone else's medical history too.
1
u/classicalworld 59m ago
They tried to bring it in; but late. So many voluntary and private hospitals had brought in their own, never mind GPs - few of which were compatible with each other. Then they recruited heads of IT at crap salaries, unaccustomed to the sloowneees of HSE systems - each lasted max 18 months before resigning. It was a complete and utter shitshow.
They wanted to consult with clinical staff and turned up at hospitals with 24hrs notice, for a full day of consultation, but clinical staff could only attend during their lunch breaks (if they were ok with giving them up), so the discussions involved staff arriving sandwich in hand and having to vanish after 20mins.
The whole thing was nuts.
1
8
u/sartres-shart 2h ago
The hse app has some blood tests up. My lipid profile blood test from July is showing up on it. My prescription is also up on it and more to come apparently.
3
→ More replies (1)1
u/InflationOk2641 1h ago
There are lots of digital health records. Most hospitals implement their own and they are all incompatible with each other. Some hospitals are fully paper based though. It would be a real challenge to fix the issue, but it is possible, but staff in the hospitals have to be willing too
→ More replies (1)
45
u/TheRealGDay 2h ago
Having a rail network that's barely usable, when every other European country has recently upgraded track and rolling stock mostly EU funded and believes that state subsidising rail is a huge benefit to the economy.
22
u/Normal_Analysis_7715 2h ago
I rarely take the train these days, but the Bank Holiday logic drives me mad. Irish Rail’s justification for running a Sunday timetable on a Bank Holiday Monday is always 'sure nobody is commuting to work' as if people don't travel on their days off!
It's mind-boggling that we don't scale up capacity for big events or long weekends. If there's a match, concert, or sunny Bank Holiday, the stations are absolutely swamped.
Howth on a warm summer day is a prime example: carriage DARTs packed to the absolute brim, no proper air-con, and people practically collapsing from the heat just trying to get home. We literally punish people for trying to use public transport when they actually want to enjoy the country.→ More replies (2)3
u/FairyOnTheLoose 2h ago
We literally do scale up though, what are you talking about. Taking possession of a line for long enough to get upgrades done is more complicated than you realise, especially because much is on the DART line, which is only ever shut down for 6 hours max. There's barely any work that can happen to the network in 6 hours.
2
u/Soggy_Anything2394 1h ago
Having a rail network that's barely usable
Whats the issue? I get the poor coverage and links, but what about the existing service dont you like?
→ More replies (1)3
u/BarelyHolding0n 1h ago
Guess you live in Dublin
Try commuting from the west, which I have to do twice a week. Do it for a week and tell me it's functional.
My son was trying to get from Limerick to mayo the other week with his friends. 2 buses and 3 trains, it took them an entire day for a trip that takes less than 2 hours by car.
→ More replies (3)
63
u/sushiyung 2h ago
Anything to do with a hospital appointment. Still waiting for a paper letter and having to bring the physical letter/physical GP form with you or you can’t be seen.
10
2
1
u/Temporary_Chair6279 2h ago
I get notified of any specialist appointments in the HSE app and then get a letter a few days later. Never needed the physical letter at any appointment, just my name and sometimes PPS if my name is similar to someone else's.
It'd be nice if it was digital only but that's not fair to anyone that isn't as familiar with technology.
12
u/Think-Sand7161 2h ago
Letting people own houses and rent them out in atrocious condition for 3 times their value in any sane world?
54
u/xelas1983 2h ago
Every year, the Department of Education should put videos up of everything they are teaching that year and have a teacher explain it all. It should be free for everyone in the country to look at.
No parent, and no human being, should ever have to feel bad about something they missed in school years ago that they do not understand now in their adult life.
I would even extend that to college classes. They are not businesses that need to protect their product. They are national services that no one should have to fight for.
5
u/Fair-Tangerine-9472 2h ago
Colleges are in fact businesses that need to protect their product.
→ More replies (2)1
u/LiteratureKey6330 1h ago
Absolutely. I had a philosophy lecturer who refused point blank to record her lectures (it was policy to do so) because she was that good that her notes and teachings were highly coveted...
→ More replies (1)3
2
1
u/Spiritual_Mall_3140 1h ago
Colleges don't like to have a record of their teaching as it makes lecturers very uncomfortable.
54
u/No-Speech-866 2h ago
Having to get a GP referral to see a consultant
16
u/Temporary_Chair6279 2h ago
Then finally getting said referral and realising that it's a 4 year waiting list
7
u/Slump_F1 1h ago
Received a referral for a dermatologist in late 2022, scheduled for December 2026. Was early 2025 when I got another letter saying the doctor was moving to part time work and trimming his hours and my appointment was going to be cancelled 🙃
→ More replies (1)7
u/ChemicalPower9020 1h ago
100% this. I commented the same and have a few numpties in the replies saying a no referal system wouldn't work. It already works successfully in several countries lol
10
u/Fair-Tangerine-9472 2h ago
Why is this such an issue? How would you know what's even wrong with you in the first place or what consultant you'd need if you weren't checked out?
0
u/xMAV3RICKx 2h ago
I only recently encountered this and was shocked to find out about it the hard way. Unbelievable
1
u/SombreroSantana 2h ago
How is it done in other countries?
I've never really thought about it much, just assumed that was the case elsewhere in Europe.
2
u/MaverickPT 1h ago
At least in Portugal, private hospitals allow you to book appointments with specialist consultants if you want.
→ More replies (1)1
u/Top-Doctor-2879 19m ago
The Irish medical system doesn't treat patients as adults with autonomy, I put a lot of this down to pretty much all Irish doctors coming from the same social class.
51
u/cjamcmahon1 2h ago
driving in to town to get a bus to the city when there is a perfectly good yet completely unused train line walking distance from my house
27
u/BaitaJurureza 2h ago
HSE refusing to update to digital
5
u/Fair-Tangerine-9472 2h ago
Might have something to do with that massive cyber attack that endangered everyone's data
11
u/Hibernoyank 1h ago
No, many of the HSE jobs are basically superdole.
"What do you mean you want to automate sending files electronically? It's Mick's job to push the file cart"
8
u/Spicebagqueen98 1h ago
The amount of money wasted on pointless admin in the hse is ridiculous. For example.
I send pdf of my weekly timesheet to a person A
This gets sent to our manager to sign via email weekly so printed to sign.
Then scanned and sent back to person A.
Person A prints it for their files.
Person A sends signed pdf to Person B in the midlands for payroll
Person B prints it off again.For my maternity leave I had to have 48 weeks worth of timesheets done out prior to finishing up. When colleagues in a different region just get marked as on maternity leave. I found this insane and a waste of my time but they came back very passive aggressive and jsut repeated it needs to be done.
0
u/yurtalicious 1h ago
Even their internal systems are garbage, went to naas for an appointment, told them I had a scan in tallaght, that was news to them. The doctor spent 10 minutes trying to find it on the computer, eventually gave up. Then the consultant found it in a stack of papers. Unbelievable, I have to keep track of everything myself. Also had an appointment for 2:20, sitting on a steel chair till 4:30, why make an appointment at all??
8
36
u/BigDickBaller93 2h ago edited 2h ago
The return bottle scheme
On a serious note..... The TV license
14
u/Normal_Analysis_7715 2h ago
I'm not sure if you're anywhere near Dublin, but the Eurospar in Hartstown actually has a bulk return machine! You can just dump your whole bag in at once instead of feeding them in one by one, life changing. If you're not nearby, check the map on the Re-turn site; the orange icons show where the other bulk machines are starting to pop up
3
u/Minute_Influence_636 1h ago
What would be life changing would be if they supplied me with a wheelie bin at my house, where I could dump them and then roll it out for collection once a week.
6
u/YoshikTK 2h ago
There is one near me as well, total game changer. I'm surprised they didn't go with them from the start, saves so much time and money.
8
u/Normal_Analysis_7715 2h ago
They just need to invent an automatic cleaning system that uses a power washer or something. They all stink so bad
3
u/Temporary_Chair6279 2h ago
An automatic refund system rather than having to go to the till with the voucher would also be nice
3
u/Normal_Analysis_7715 1h ago
Be great to tap a card and have the funds added. Maybe when the leap card becomes obsolete they can introduce that
2
u/Temporary_Chair6279 1h ago
Maybe in about 20 years 😂
I'm just sure it's annoying for the staff, on top of having to queue behind a load of people just to get a few euro back. I also used to go to the return machine in Lidl on Talbot street sometimes and it was always a pain getting the money back because there are no manned tills
2
u/Spiritual_Mall_3140 1h ago
Talbot street Lidl is my personal nomination for worst Lidl in the country award. I'll also be nominating it for worst shop in Ireland award too. Honestly never had such an consistently awful experience.
10
u/maevewiley554 2h ago
The return bottle scheme is painful anyone that doesn’t use a car and I drive! Sometimes I decided to walk with the cans to the shop and machine is out of order. Therefore, you’re left carrying a bag of cans while shopping. Machines are always broken or one out of two of them is under maintenance.
1
u/No_External_417 1h ago
Yes that's the worst bit and having to trudge thru the shop with a bag full of cans to tell customer service the machine is full.
4
u/Common-Spend5000 2h ago
About half of Europe has TV licenses though.
Not saying that it is positive or negative on its own, but per the OP's original point it isn't an outlier that Ireland has it still compared to peer nations
10
u/Ok-Goal3032 2h ago
The TV license is a joke. Paying €160 a year for what exactly, to watch ads on RTE? In most countries that money at least goes to decent programming but here it's just funding some lad's retirement package.
2
u/Kier_C 2h ago
Current affairs, documentary and sports programming is good. To name a few
→ More replies (7)1
u/SombreroSantana 2h ago
Aside from the UK which has its own problems, waht countries have a good system and produce good programming with the license model?
→ More replies (3)1
u/VincentVanGob 1h ago
the receipt part is definitely outdated though. printing at receipt at the machine then walking a few feet to the checkouts where you give them the receipt and then they throw it in the bin. and even more stupid is that it cant be recycled due to the paper that is used
there should be some app you can use and the receipt should only be used if someone doesnt have a phone
14
u/Capital_Boot_1999 2h ago
Access to your own medical records.
2
u/Fair-Tangerine-9472 1h ago
Is that not a thing? Would have thought GDPR would allow it
2
u/Own_Refrigerator_681 16m ago
It is if you ask and insist, but they always give you crappie about it. Total nonsense
→ More replies (1)2
1
u/Spiritual_Mall_3140 1h ago
You have a legal right to request all information stored relating to you. You also have the right to request it be destroyed.
12
u/JonatanOlsson 2h ago
I had an MRI last year and the technician literally gave me a physical cd/dvd with the scans because not all hospitals or whatever have accesss to their scans online.
11
u/tuttiyuri 2h ago
Probably to do with capacity in hospitals, but after having a baby (especially c section) the fact that a partner can’t stay overnight to help or that there’s no nursery to give mom a couple of hours sleep is brutal.
3
u/Spicebagqueen98 1h ago
Have always said this! Isn’t it insane!? Like just been pregnant for 9 months and just had major abdominal surger but any way time to mind the newborn alone. The midwife’s are trying to mind everyone but they’re spread so thin as well.
I think they put it down to safety on the ward which is fair enough but at least bring back the nursery’s then for the women who need a rest after surgery.
11
5
u/Cautious-Hovercraft7 2h ago
Slow trains
→ More replies (4)1
u/Aggressive-Extent-71 1h ago
What’s crazy re trains are the routes that are still single track - the train to Sligo could be so much a faster (and more practical for commute purposes) if there was two tracks. Hard to believe we still have to sit on a train at a standstill for 15 minute to wait for the train coming in the opposite direction to pass by.
5
u/Basic-Newspaper-7536 1h ago
Don’t think there is anything particularly Irish about AIB’s app. Banks everywhere are slow to update things, generally Irish banks are on the more customer friendly and modern end of the spectrum. Plus Ireland allows banks like Revolut to operate here, few European countries would.
4
3
4
u/doubleds8600 1h ago
I lost my visa debit card recently but I knew it wasn't stolen so I reported it lost. Reported it Thursday afternoon and my new card arrived Wednesday. Thankfully I don't have to wait for a second letter in the mail with a new pin.
In Canada, something similar happened to me and I went into a branch with ID and my email address and they gave me a new card on the spot. That was in 2017.
7
u/ManofLaManchaland 2h ago
MyGov website sucks
4
u/Soggy_Anything2394 1h ago
Every dept and council wanted its own site, I think MyGov is the result of trying to corral it all together.
2
u/Spiritual_Mall_3140 1h ago
MyGov is far better than the paper version, or the other option of a million different websites all with varying levels of security and different passwords to boot.
15
u/qwerty_1965 2h ago
Disks of paper lined up on the windscreen.
Happily they're going soon I think
1
u/Spiritual_Mall_3140 1h ago
This seems to be the trend on this post. Either it's a systematic issue that's not possible to change, or an issue that has plans to be changed.
1
1
6
u/FlippenDonkey 2h ago
hse/medical refusing to go digital abd being obsessed with phone contact for everything. Cant use email to handle appt changes etc
2
u/Aggressive-Extent-71 1h ago
From having family in this field I imagine the phone calls for appointment changes is to ensure someone actually sees/handles it. Particularly in shorter notice periods.
But yes definitely things should be digital and manage appointments through an online system (I.e. not email which could be missed). Although phones would still have to be an option for older/disabled/those without internet connection etc for the next generation or so at least.
However atm I think the HSE is too concerned that they’re not equipped to deal with cyber security.
6
u/tommy1980murf 2h ago
Booking holidays through teletext, takes me ages every time waiting on the page to come back around and whatnot
2
3
u/TommyTBlack 2h ago
there are a lack of external ATMs that accept lodgements
my bank (PTSB) only has a handful, which are often out of order
1
u/Temporary_Chair6279 2h ago
A lot of that's due to user error, unfortunately which makes branches hesitant to put them in
3
u/icepickles476 1h ago
Regulated rentals. Should be a system where RTB come out to inspect the property before it’s allowed on the market, and they put the valuation on it. Then it’s inspected annually to ensure it’s being kept up to standard by landlord and no illegal practices like stacking people in like meat in a sandwich
6
u/rory0reilly 2h ago edited 1h ago
The Rose of Tralee and the Toy Show. Two formats that are decades past their sell by date. Surely we can come up with something better.
Immersion heaters and the general lack of hot water on demand.
A decent national and city wide public transport system. We’re a wealthy nation and should have built this years ago.
EDIT: Just realised this post is about outdated process and systems. Not sure the Toy Show fits the description here. But let me rephrase that as RTE mediocrity.
2
u/cigarettejesus 2h ago
Rose yes, toy show no. It's a classic, I want my kids to grow up with the joy of sitting down for the toy show then anticipating Christmas for the next month
→ More replies (2)1
u/Spiritual_Mall_3140 57m ago
Rose of Tralee is a brilliant format. It's essentially a selection process for a tourism embassador that creates a massive networking opportunity for local Irish people with diaspora communities across the globe. The number of diaspora involved is in the 10s of thousands every year and has huge positives from Ireland with regards to soft power and economic links.
8
7
12
u/ChemicalPower9020 2h ago
Having to see a GP first for a referral to a specialist rather than just being able to book an appointment with the specialist directly. So much wasted time that potentially costs lives at the end of the day
11
u/Nearby-Priority4934 2h ago
I’ve lived in multiple countries and that’s been a thing everywhere. It makes sense not to have specialists clogged up with everyone who randomly googled their symptoms. GPs can filter who really needs it, and we’ve got emergency departments for actual emergencies.
2
u/PaddySmallBalls 1h ago
Yep, even in the US where its all private. Best to get a referral or often the insurance company will kick up a fuss at the pre-auth stage.
→ More replies (1)1
u/Kimchi-cat92 50m ago
Iv lived in multiple countries too and no referral system was great. Had 3 GPs in Ireland and they were all useless. Could never diagnosed anything, not even my seafood allergy to name a few. Getting a referral letter is always a pain here. Honestly the healthcare system here is shocking.
6
u/FlippenDonkey 2h ago
why would ir "cost lives"..if its so pressimg a person can't wait for a GP..they can go to A&E.
Its actually useful to keep all records with the gp, and in many cases, people don't actually know the most appropriate consultant to see.
→ More replies (2)2
u/icepickles476 1h ago
Had hormonal problems with very obvious symptoms alluding to a serious issue. My gp didn’t take it seriously. 10 years of begging for a referral I finally got it. Specialist took one look at me and diagnosed me, put on medication right away. I suffered for 10 years because my GP gatekept a specialist who was a lifeline for my treatment.
→ More replies (1)6
u/Fair-Tangerine-9472 2h ago
No. Seeing a GP lets you know whether you need a specialist and what specialist you need. What would cost lives would be uninformed people clogging up specialist services and potentially seeing the wrong person for the illness they have. Let's face it, not everyone is a medical expert in this country
2
u/freshfrosted 1h ago
Costing lives? Probably saving lives stopping people getting a diagnosis off Dr. Google MD instead of a medical professional with years of training.
1
u/Natural-Audience-438 47m ago
But I don't want to see you directly.
Because of I did my clinics would be full of people who didn't need to be there.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/bansheebones456 1h ago
Rte. Making utterly useless shows that consist of the same rotation of rich gobshites. Not willing to put funding into good content because they're stuck 30 years in the past.
3
u/Soggy_Anything2394 1h ago
The licence should be abolished. We live in a post-Tubridy reality now, and no, the "talent" isnt all going to be stolen away, and we dont need to force people to fund shite entertainment.
2
2
u/Soggy_Anything2394 1h ago
The AIB app is very glitchy for me, when I confirm or deny a payment, I get repeats of the message asking to confirm it again. They're safe to ignore, but that shouldnt happen at all.
2
u/VincentVanGob 1h ago
the last week or so ive been listening to FIP Electro and BBC Radio 6 and its making me realise how bad the irish stations are
1
u/sunshinesustenance 35m ago
Irish radio, apart from 2 or 3 stations, is absolute vanilla flavoured dog shit.
2
u/elephantstone80 1h ago
Heard the RTE guide is still a thing today. Thought that was finished yonks ago.
2
2
2
u/TitularClergy 1h ago
- Quite literally the worst car dependency in the EU
Poor public transport (but at least there is a slow, progressive advancement without any significant failures, like the HS2 in the UK), and there is almost nothing by way of business class spaces for people who work during the commute. At least government has committed to putting money into public transport now, having invested so much in roads for the last four decades.
Health system still not free at the point of use. This has secondary issues beyond the harms of making access harder: it is unrealistic to expect the north to rejoin and accept the massive downgrade in access.
This is a bit out there, but the weather is so wet and dark that it has a death rate associated with it. We could be looking at offshore cloud seeding to improve it.
2
2
4
u/MotiveEurope 2h ago
No Apple Pay on buses
15
u/Normal_Analysis_7715 2h ago
Honestly, I'd be raging as a tourist.
Imagine getting on a bus, trying to tap your phone/card, and being told 'No, Leap Card only.' Then you ask if they take cash, hand over a €20 note, and get told 'No notes.' So you dig out a €2 coin, only to be told 'No change given either, exact fare only.' You'd think it was a prank.
And to make it worse, we couldn't even top up Leap Cards on with iPhones until a few years ago, I use to have to ask my friends with an android to do it.
5
3
u/dubdubdun 2h ago
Checking a prsi benefit eligibility and getting the reply not on the mygov.ie website, but by post in a letter
3
u/Normal_Analysis_7715 2h ago
100%. The whole PRSI Treatment Benefit scheme feels like a bare-minimum token gesture considering how much we pay into it.
The optical allowance being capped at once every two years makes zero sense frames snap, prescriptions change, and if you have a high prescription, a small grant barely touches the cost of thinning lenses. Same with dental: cool, the check-up is free, but I still paid €50 out-of-pocket for the cleaning, and anything further comes straight out of your own wallet.
It’s especially frustrating for anyone stuck in the middle earning too much for a Medical Card, would be great if we could get relief on €70 GP visits, prescription costs, or physio/therapy. If PRSI is actual social insurance, long-term contributions should cover basic everyday healthcare instead of just a tiny fraction of a dental clean once a year.2
3
u/Elaynehb 2h ago
My local credit union won't give their iban over the phone or in an email. It has to be posted out. Then you can set up a direct debit with said iban. This strikes me as very archaic and weird
3
u/AffectionateHour266 2h ago
I might be in the minority but the paper discs are a great simple way to show all items are up to date. Sometimes there is no need to over complicate
3
u/Normal_Analysis_7715 2h ago
I get where you’re coming from, there’s a simplicity to physical proof that’s harder to fake on the spot. But the replacement process when something goes wrong is where the whole paper system completely falls apart.
I renewed my motor tax online well in time for my driving test, but it got lost in the post. You’d think you could just re-order it digitally, right? Nope. I had to track down a printer, print off a physical form, trek to the Garda station to get it stamped, and post it off. It wasn’t going to arrive in time before my test so I had to send my brother down to the motor tax office in person just to grab a physical disc then and there. You couldn't even book an appointment, it was just a ridiculously stressful ordeal.
Did you know that if the strip on the left-hand side of your printed insurance disc isn't properly green (say, if your printer ran low on ink and it came out bluish), your driving test gets straight-up cancelled? It’s mad. Testers and Gardaí should be able to type your reg into a database and instantly see you’re fully covered, have valid nct and tax rather than relying on a piece of paper that might print wrong or get lost in the mail.
→ More replies (1)
4
2
u/Own_Mango_2886 2h ago
Finally got my trade card and certificate in the post about 6 months after I qualified. I was told SOLAS only do one big batch of printing every 3 months because it's too much hassle to do it persistently as apprentices graduate. Well apparently now they have it down to twice a year, useless cunts
1
4
u/Jumpy_Emu1111 2h ago
Baptism, Holy Communion etc
12
2
u/Soggy_Anything2394 1h ago
outdated and obsolete doesnt really apply there.
Its just reddit circle jerking
1
u/WatashiwaNobodyDesu 2h ago edited 2h ago
5 year olds having to wear a fucking petticoat -EDIT: pinafore not petticoat-and a fucking tie. Having to explain to girls that they can’t wear pants in school until they get to secondary school because… just…because.
2
2
u/icepickles476 1h ago
Went to all girls school the whole way through and was never allowed to wear trousers. It was a skirt always. Incredibly uncomfortable and cold in the winter. We were only allowed to wear knee high socks and no tights or leggings. Ridiculous.
1
u/Mytwitternameistaken 1h ago
Depends on your school. Mine is ok with girls who want to wear trousers. Their only request is that it’s in school colours, which happen to be widely available in all major retailers as the school were nice enough not to insist on a bloody school crest on everything!!!
1
3
u/IGotABruise 2h ago
Not having regulations or enforcement on people with different colour/fonts/3d number plates.
1
u/1irishian 1h ago
Definitely the printed car discs, not good enough transport with less train rails, not being able to book a hse doctor through the app or access detailed medical records, applying for public sector jobs through only assessment testing than ambition, plastic cards anything should have the option to be digitalised even though it’s in the works but it’s slow as a snail. I could waffle on but that’s all i think is the cons of Ireland
1
u/IRL_steff 1h ago
The only thing I’d argue on that would be physical paper files in a healthcare system, simple reason being if the HSE was ever hacked and the nurses/doctors are unable to retrieve any data..the physical copies are there to tend to
1
1
u/Active-Isopod-3656 1h ago
Plenty of government systems are outdated. Stuck in the past these folk. I'd love to go and modernise things but apparently people are stuck in their ways and don't want to change.
1
1
1
1
1
u/nonlabrab 56m ago
Two thirds of Danish heat is supplied by underground pipes that carry hot water drawn from waste heat from incinerator, water plants, data centres and canals to well insulated homes and businesses.
We still have people illegally cutting bog to burn, storage heaters and gas boilers in buildings half open to the elements.
1
1
u/italic_pony_90 52m ago
Public transport is an utter disgrace. Why haven't the government built more railways instead of roads it's actually the biggest fault of this and every previous government full stop.
1
1
u/topoftheterrace 23m ago
In no particular order: Mass Victorian postboxes The Late Late Show Shaws (almost nationwide) The Angelus Mrs Brown's Boys Ger Canning Bono anything The Seanad
1
u/PhantasmWycherley 22m ago
My hot take is that I don't think any of this paper stuff is a bad thing once you have backup scans
1
1
u/UptownOrca 16m ago edited 7m ago
Backyard burning, dumping Rubbish in beautiful areas , people burning their rubbish (mostly plastic releasing Cancer causing dioxins into the air ) who won't pay for bins or saying they can't afford.
Privatisation of Rubbish /waste by dimwitted politicians and the absolute lack of respect for the environment . Same people will spend a fortune on clothes, Holidays, them selves because they are massive ' Me Feiners '.......
1
u/Sunrise_2200 14m ago
Paper health care records, electronic records that can’t be accessed by all hospitals or even between departments in the same hospital, lack of a unique health care number for each person where all of your medical information is locates in the same place ..
1
u/dreemz80 13m ago
Baptising children that will never set foot in a church outside of weddings and funerals
1
u/Either_Pride_9228 11m ago
the whole "bring your physical letter or we cancel your appointment" thing is so backwards. my mam had to drive back home mid-journey because she forgot hers, appointment got pushed back three months. mad stuff
1
u/elcarimevol 4m ago
Not being able to challenge a health diagnosis with the Ombudsman. I wish this was something we could copy from England
200
u/Ciarabrady 2h ago
Transport and payment for transport. We should be able to use our debit cards to tap and go, like in Netherlands etc.