Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
1012 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Transport the efforts being made to improve the lengthy delays experienced by persons awaiting their driving test; the present waiting time for Dungarvan test centre and Waterford city test centre from the date of application to the date of testing; the number of persons driving on provisional licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22657/04]
View answerMy Department is in communication with the Department of Finance regarding measures to reduce the backlog of driving test applicants, including the recruitment of additional driver testers. Several retired driver testers have been employed to deliver additional tests and driver testers continue to deliver additional tests by working overtime on Saturdays and at lunchtime. The Bill to establish the driver testing and standards authority, which will take on responsibility for conducting driving tests and will have more flexibility to respond to variations in demand, was published last July. The average waiting time for a driving test in Waterford is 37 weeks and in Dungarvan, 41 weeks. On 31 December 2003 there were 367,807 provisional licence holders.
