asked the Minister for the Environment the number of people who are on the waiting list for driving tests on a county-by-county basis; the average length of time a person has to wait before he can do the test; and the steps he proposes to take to rectify the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Driving Tests.
28.
At 1 February 1989, the number of applications on the waiting list for driving tests on a county-by-county basis was as indicated in a schedule which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. The average waiting period is currently 25 weeks.
I have taken the following measures to reduce the backlog:
(1) I have decided to increase the number of testers from 50 to a total of 75 by way of redeployment from within the public service. Recruitment of these additional testers is currently under way.
(2) I introduced Saturday tests in addition to the normal Monday to Friday tests.
(3) Applicants for tests must now give at least a week's notice of cancellation of a test appointment or risk forfeiture of fee. This has facilitated the allocation of cancelled appointments.
(4) I am taking steps to ensure greater harmonisation of waiting periods throughtout the country.
I intend to keep the position under review so that a satisfactory service is restored as soon as possible.
Schedule of Waiting Lists
|
Carlow |
327 |
|
Cavan |
764 |
|
Clare |
879 |
|
Cork |
3,728 |
|
Donegal |
1,248 |
|
Dublin |
9,388 |
|
Galway |
2,357 |
|
Kerry |
1,043 |
|
Kildare |
283 |
|
Kilkenny |
318 |
|
Laois |
289 |
|
Leitrim |
258 |
|
Limerick |
2,286 |
|
Longford |
365 |
|
Louth |
542 |
|
Mayo |
1,424 |
|
Meath |
570 |
|
Monaghan |
655 |
|
Offaly |
293 |
|
Roscommon |
474 |
|
Sligo |
467 |
|
Tipperary |
780 |
|
Waterford |
1,202 |
|
Westmeath |
260 |
|
Wexford |
675 |
|
Wicklow |
241 |