Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 5

Written Answers. - Driving Tests.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

231 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of driving tests carried out each week at the centres in Donegal; the length of waiting lists and waiting time for those to be tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14068/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy):

Information on the number of driving tests carried out in Donegal, as well as on waiting lists and the longest waiting times, is set out in the following table. Statistics are not available on a weekly basis.

Centre	Number of tests conducted in 1999	Number of tests conducted1 January to 22 April 2000	Number on waiting list at24 April, 2000	Longest waiting period (weeks) for a test at 24 April, 2000
Buncrana	900	307	396	20
Donegal	1,483	493	895	23
Letterkenny	1,814	915	1,673	33

Total4,1971,7152,964

Information on the average waiting time by centre is not available. However, upgrades to the IT system are currently under way which will enable these figures to be produced in the figure. Of the 2,964 applicants currently on the waiting list for driving tests in Donegal, 713 have been given test appointments and a further 603 have indicated that they are not currently available to be tested.