Vol. 501 No. 6
268 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the average waiting time from the date of application to the sitting of the driving test at Portlaoise, County Laois; his views on whether this delay is acceptable in view of the large number of applicants; the steps, if any, he will take to address the situation. [6638/99]
The average waiting time for a driving test at Portlaoise test centre in the four week period to the end of February was 23 weeks.
As I indicated in my contribution to the Dáil Adjournment debate on 16 February my Department is responding to the unsatisfactory waiting period for driving tests by increasing the numbers and productivity of its driver testers. Saturday testing has been in place for some time and a further package of productivity measures has been implemented. The service is also being augmented by the appointment of new driver testers both on a permanent and contract basis.
