Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 5

Written Answers. - Driving Tests.

Seán Ryan

Question:

37 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of applicants awaiting a driving test at the latest date for which figures are available; the average length of the waiting time for a test at each centre; the reasons for the long delays; the steps being taken to reduce the waiting time for tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10037/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Some 91,100 applicants are awaiting driving tests. Of these, approximately 25,400 have been given test appointments and a further 15,900 have indicated that they are not available to be tested. The average longest waiting time nationally is some 30 weeks, a reduction of ten weeks relative to the same period in 1999. However, applicants who require a test for urgent reasons are being given earlier appointments. About 24% of applicants are tested within 15 weeks.

Average waiting times have not been compiled for each centre due to limitations in the IT systems involved. However, the tabular statement below sets out the longest waiting time for each centre.

In 1999 an all time record of 154,000 test applications were made to my Department, compared with 118,000 applications in 1997. Applications for the early part of this year are running at 15% above the numbers received in the equivalent period in 1999.

Significant additional resources have been allocated to the driver testing service, which now numbers 101 testers compared to 66 in 1998. Together with productivity agreements and Saturday working, this has increased the testing capacity of the service to some 200,000 tests annually. Two new test centres have been provided in Tallaght and Raheny.

I am determined to promote improvement of the driving test service and to end current excessive and unacceptable waiting times. A maximum waiting period of ten weeks is being targeted by the end of this year.

Test Centre	Longest waiting period (weeks)
Nth. Leinster Region
Finglas/Raheny	46
Dundalk	15
Mullingar	24
Navan	18
Sth. Leinster Region
Churchtown/Rathgar/Tallaght	41
Gorey	19
Naas	37
Tullamore	14
Wicklow	23
West Region
Athlone	25
Birr	27
Castlebar	37
Clifden	29
Ennis	22
Galway	30
Loughrea	25
Roscommon	31
Tuam	30
Nth. West Region
Ballina	24
Buncrana	20
Ck-on-Shannon	21
Cavan	23
Donegal	22
Letterkenny	36
Longford	25
Monaghan	22
Sligo	24
Sth. East Region
Carlow	25
Clonmel	30
Dungarvan	30
Kilkenny	37
Nenagh	29
Portlaoise	22
Thurles	30
Tipperary	29
Waterford	26
Wexford	37
Sth. West Region
Cork	46
Killarney	36
Kilrush	37
Limerick	35
Mallow	40
Newcastle West	44
Shannon	42
Skibereen	42
Tralee	37
Overall Average	29.7