Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 6

Written Answers. - Driving Tests.

Ivor Callely

Question:

187 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the driving test centres in Dublin and surrounding counties; the waiting time for a driving test for each centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14221/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Information is set out in the following table in relation to longest waiting times at relevant test centres.

While average waiting periods have not been compiled for individual test centres due to limi tations in the IT systems involved, the national average waiting time for a test is now 31 weeks. However, applicants who require a test for urgent reasons are being given early appointments – about 30 per cent of applicants are tested within 15 weeks. Only 5 per cent of applicants would have to wait longer than 56 weeks, while less than 10 per cent would have to wait between 51 and 55 weeks.

With the increased resources now being made available to the driver testing service, improvements in waiting times are beginning to be realised in most test centres. The task now is to continue and accelerate this process, and to extend its benefits to the Dublin area where waiting times remain particularly high.

Centre	Finglas	Churchtown/Rathgar	Naas	Navan	Wicklow
Longest waiting time (weeks)	62	54	30	30	30