Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - Driving Tests Backlog.

Mr. Howlin

I am grateful to the Chair for allowing me to raise the issue of the inordinate waiting time for driving test applicants to be tested. This is an issue of grave national importance and causes concern right across the country although the waiting time for driving tests varies from district to district. Nationally, I understand, 30,000 applicants are waiting for a test and a three month waith in most areas is not uncommon; sometimes it is more.

The implications for the applicant of having to wait this length are clear. First, we must consider the cost of motor insurance. We have debated at length the tremendous cost of motor insurance, particularly for young drivers. Indeed, the cost is prohibitive for many people for whom this is a basic essential, the ability to drive a motor vehicle by a rural based community. In addition there is a loading on the insurance premium because the person has a provisional licence. That person may be able to drive a vehicle and pass the test but cannot be tested due to the shortage of testers throughout the country. This also has serious implications for road safety. Some people may be driving on a provisional licence who should not be on the road. A speedy road test would give a clear indication of who can drive and it would put more pressure on people to take proper coaching in driving so that the skills could be imparted in that way.

The question of employment is germane to this issue. When we are looking at every avenue to create jobs, it seems to me that the employment of additional testers would create some jobs because we have the equivalent of 30,000 hours of work ready to be done and paid for in advance by the people who have to put their money on the line when applying for the test. There is a certain complacency in Government in crowing over the fact that the numbers have been reduced in recent years. This is not a new problem and I am not suggesting it is. We have had waiting lists for driving tests for many years. The situation was so bad many years ago that licences were issued without proper testing. That is completely and totally unacceptable.

There is a solution to the problem the appointment of adequate driver testers. the situation in one test centre was outlined for me today and I am sure it is replicated across the country. The existing testers are required to do nine extra tests on overtime at weekends. They are required to work this overtime on two Saturdays each month and the cost, including overnight accommodation, is £138.50 per night. This means that 18 tests are provided at a cost of £277. Against this, temporary driving testers who are employed on contract are paid £251 per week. They are required to carry out 44 tests and this is obviously much more cost-effective. I appeal to the Minister to address this question as a matter of urgency and allow sufficient testers to be employed, thus giving employment to some of the 276,000 unemployed people who crave work and at the same time reducing the unacceptable waiting time for driving tests and improve the safety standards in our roads. I hope the Minister will give that undertaking tonight.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Smith)

It is true that there was an unacceptable waiting time for driving tests back in 1990. This was due primarily to the fact that we had too few testers as a result of the ban on recruitment to the Civil Service which had been in place for some time. An aggravating factor was the continuing increase in the level of applications being received. The position now, however, is dramatically different. The average waiting period for a driving test has been reduced from 47 weeks in November 1990 to about 11 weeks at present. The number of applicants waiting for driving tests has been reduced in the same period from over 68,000 to 31,600 at the end of February this year. Of this later figure, 10,300 had been given appointments for tests and a further 9,000 had previously been given at least one appointment and had cancelled. The nett figure of those waiting for an appointment, is, therefore, only 12,300 which is equal to the intake for only about five weeks. In effect, all of those who were waiting for first appointments at the end of February had been waiting for five weeks at most and they could expect to be tested within a further period of about six weeks.

This cannot be represented as a totally unacceptable backlog. In addition, anyone requiring an early or urgent test is readily accommodated. This position has been achieved through a programme of recruitment and training of additional permanent testers and the hiring of temporary testers on a contract basis specifically to eliminate the backlog of applications. The position is being kept under close review to ensure that the rate of testing is maintained at an adequate level.

Testing is conducated by a corps of 63 testers at 47 test centres throughout the country. Not all of these centres have permanently headquartered testers because the numbers of applications at particular centres may not be sufficient to keep a tester fuly occupied. In other centres, the staff is increased from time to time to deal with peaks in the levels of activity. Rotation of testers between centres is also needed to provide alternative testers for repeat tests and to protect the testers themselves against undue pressure due to over familiarity. All of this means that while the average waiting period is currently about 11 weeks, local variations can occur. Every effort is being made, however, to keep waiting periods in all areas as close to the national average as possible.

In conclusion, I want to repeat what I said earlier — there is no undue delay in providing driving tests for applicants. The 11 weeks I mentioned is not unreasonable. In addition, experience has shown that about five weeks' notice of appointment is the minimum required to avoid an unacceptable level of cancellations by applicants. I can assure the House that I will monitor the situation closely and ensure that whatever action is necessary will be taken to maintain an acceptable level of service.