Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 5

Written Answers. - Driving Tests.

Austin Deasy

Question:

137 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason there are no driving tests being carried out at Dungarvan, County Waterford for the next four weeks at least, when the waiting period for an applicant seeking a test in Dungarvan is 16 weeks; the action he is taking to ensure that there is a constant flow of testing in Dungarvan to help reduce the waiting period to a reasonable amount of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9589/02]

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

The average waiting time for a driving test at the Dungarvan driving test centre is 15 weeks. This is generally in line with the average for the south east region which currently stands at 13 weeks. I understand the period referred to in the question is from 11 March to 5 April. This includes three short working weeks. Testers are not normally rostered outside of their headquarter centre during such weeks.

Testers are assigned to the Dungarvan test centre having regard to the level of demand for tests there and in the south east region generally and takes account of the operational requirements of the service. Over the past year the equivalent of just under one tester per week has been scheduled for testing duties in Dungarvan.