asked the Minister for the Environment the reason applicants for a driving test in areas such as Galway, Limerick and Ennis have to wait approximately 10 to 12 months to undertake a test after applying for one; and the steps he is taking to reduce the time delay and the backlog which has resulted.
Written Answers. - Driving Test Delays.
110.
In the Limerick, Ennis and Loughrea test centres, the waiting period for a driving test approximates to the current national average of 29 weeks. While the situation in the Galway city centre deteriorated over the past few months, I have taken steps to bring it back into line with the national average quickly. In general, driver testers are so deployed to test centres that the waiting period for a test is maintained as far as practicable at a uniform level throughout the country.
Recently, I announced that I intended to make arrangements for the recruitment of 25 new testers, an increase of 50% by way of redeployment from within the public service. When these new testers have been trained and brought into the system, a significant decline in the waiting period will result fairly quickly.