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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Jun 1987

Vol. 373 No. 10

Written Answers. - Driver Testing System.

58.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of applicants awaiting driving tests in (a) Letterkenny testing centre, County Donegal, (b) Buncrana driving centre, County Donegal; the number of driving testers; and the average waiting time from the date of application to the granting of tests.

At 1 June 1987, the numbers of applications on hands for driving tests were 622 in Letterkenny and 250 in Buncrana.

For the purpose of managing the driver testing system, the country is divided into six regions. The two test centres to which the Deputy refers form part of the North West Region. At present, there are five driver testers assigned to this region. Their attendance at each of the test centres within the region is determined by reference to varying demands.

The average waiting time from date of application to granting of a test appointment in the two centres in question is now of the order of 6 months.

The main reasons for the delays are the increased demand for driving tests in recent years and the general constraints on the recruitment of public servants. Every effort is, however, being made to ensure that delays in arranging tests in the 47 centres throughout the country are kept as uniform as possible. Testers from other regions are periodically assigned duties in the north west region for this purpose. Arrangements have been made to assign three additional testers to this region on a temporary basis with a view to reducing the average delay in the region.

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