Vol. 496 No. 6
338 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of applicants awaiting driving tests; the steps, if any, he will take to deal with the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23609/98]
There are approximately 85,000 applicants awaiting driving tests. Of these, approximately 12,000 have been given test appointments and 11,000 have indicated they are not currently available to be tested. Applicants requiring an early test for urgent reasons are facilitated where possible; at present some 50 per cent of test applicants are tested within 15 weeks.
My Department is responding to this unsatisfactory situation by increasing the numbers and productivity of its driver testers. Saturday testing has already been introduced. A further package of productivity measures has recently been concluded and is being implemented. This will provide for an additional 9,000 tests per year from the existing driver testing service. This service is also being augmented by the appointment of new driver testers both on a permanent and contract basis.
