Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019
268. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a driver test demand scenario planning submission which was sent to his Department by the RSA; if the 67 proposed additional driver testers and 17 staff were appointed; if approval was given for same; when the decision was taken; the number of testers and staff appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11027/19]
View answerIn January 2018, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) submitted a Potential Surge in Driving Test Demand Scenario Planning document to my Department, requesting approval to appoint additional staff to manage the possible surge in driving test applications. This possible surge was being planned for based on the introduction of additional sanctions for learner drivers driving unaccompanied contained in the Road Traffic Bill (now the Road Traffic Act 2018) going through the Houses of the Oireachtas at that time.
I approved in May 2018, following sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the appointment of 67 additional driver testers and 17 support staff, on a phased basis for a period of 12-18 months.
Since then, the RSA has recruited 52 driver testers, and there are currently a further 14 testers undergoing training. In addition, it is planned to recruit an additional 8 driver testers in March. Including the 14 driver testers currently being trained, there are now 147.94 full time equivalent driver testers available for deployment and this provides an annual capacity of 260,000 driving tests.
