Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Driving Tests.

Michael Bell

Question:

325 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the percentage of failure rate in the driver testing service in County Louth; the waiting period for test centres in County Louth in view of the fact that the waiting period in some nine centres in the county have a ten week waiting period; the steps he will take to reduce the current waiting list; when the projected reduction for 2001 in County Louth will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21952/00]

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

There is one driving test centre in County Louth located in Dundalk. The failure rate for tests carried out at the centre this year is 44%; the national average failure rate is 42%. At present the longest waiting period for a test in Dundalk test centre is 14 weeks compared to the average longest waiting time nationally of 24 weeks.

Very significant additional resources have been allocated to the driving test service which now numbers 107 testers compared to 66 in 1998. Together with recent productivity agreements and Saturday and evening working this has increased the testing capacity considerably. Additional testers are also being recruited in light of the increased demand for tests.

I expect that we will reach our customer service target of ten weeks waiting period countrywide by July to September 2001. The waiting time in the Dundalk centre will reach ten weeks within a shorter period of time.