Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
86. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the lack of access to toilets, hand washing facilities and shelter for driving instructors at national test centres who are still working under level 5 restrictions; the action he will take to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2478/21]
View answerOperational arrangements at test centres, including the availability of waiting and washing facilities, are a matter for the Road Safety Authority.
I understand that the Authority decided to temporarily close public toilet and waiting facilities in the interests of public safety and as part of its overall Covid-19 resumption of service protocols. These are in line with health and safety risk assessment procedures which had to be adopted as part of the RSA's resumption plans and took account of guidance issued by the Health and Safety Authority and the return to work safely protocol agreed by the Labour and Employer Economic Forum, LEEF.
In response to a formal request from Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton to review these arrangements, the Authority wrote to the Department in November outlining the absolute necessity of retaining these safety measures. While the Authority recognises that this may be inconvenient for partners, family members and indeed driving instructors who accompany learner drivers to their tests, the fact remains that the more people who enter a building, the greater the risk of Covid spreading. The safety of staff and the public in general must remain the Road Safety Authority's number one priority at this time.
