I propose to take Question Nos. 155 and 186 together.
The average waiting times and numbers waiting for a driving test as at 28 October 2004 are set out in the following table. Details of those applicants who are taking their driving test for the first time are not recorded at application stage. My 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.
Test Centre
|
Average Weeks Waiting
|
Number of Applicants Waiting
|
North Leinster
|
|
|
Finglas
|
25
|
8,967
|
Dundalk
|
22
|
3,164
|
Mullingar
|
26
|
1,518
|
Navan
|
39
|
4,558
|
Raheny
|
37
|
7,796
|
South Leinster
|
|
|
Churchtown/Rathgar
|
38
|
11,618
|
Gorey
|
33
|
1,935
|
Naas
|
33
|
6,269
|
Tullamore
|
30
|
1,699
|
Wicklow
|
34
|
2,172
|
Tallaght
|
36
|
8,332
|
West
|
|
|
Athlone
|
22
|
1,221
|
Birr
|
28
|
1,216
|
Castlebar
|
34
|
2,120
|
Clifden
|
24
|
355
|
Ennis
|
16
|
1,054
|
Galway
|
25
|
2,760
|
Loughrea
|
19
|
916
|
Roscommon
|
26
|
939
|
Tuam
|
27
|
1,104
|
North West
|
|
|
Ballina
|
29
|
1,003
|
Buncrana
|
30
|
678
|
Carrick-on-Shannon
|
30
|
1,167
|
Cavan
|
31
|
1,722
|
Donegal
|
30
|
1,058
|
Letterkenny
|
31
|
1,954
|
Longford
|
33
|
907
|
Monaghan
|
32
|
1,444
|
Sligo
|
26
|
1,384
|
South East
|
|
|
Carlow
|
41
|
2,493
|
Clonmel
|
36
|
1,892
|
Dungarvan
|
32
|
1,510
|
Kilkenny
|
36
|
2,210
|
Nenagh
|
39
|
743
|
Portlaoise
|
37
|
1,505
|
Thurles
|
44
|
1,197
|
Tipperary
|
42
|
996
|
Waterford
|
38
|
2,890
|
Wexford
|
29
|
2,284
|
South West
|
|
|
Cork
|
21
|
6,252
|
Killarney
|
36
|
2,134
|
Kilrush
|
26
|
453
|
Limerick
|
33
|
3,729
|
Mallow
|
25
|
1,937
|
Newcastle West
|
26
|
1,617
|
Shannon
|
36
|
918
|
Skibbereen
|
28
|
1,847
|
Tralee
|
28
|
1,904
|
Total
|
|
119,541
|
Note: The average waiting time is derived having regard to waiting times experienced by individual applicants who have undergone a driving test over the previous four week period in the test centre.