Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
124. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the work his Department has undertaken to date or plans to undertake to examine the online taking of driver theory tests given the current and growing backlog that exists. [11252/21]
View answerWhile this is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA), my Department had previously requested that the Authority, as the body legally responsible for the driver theory test, examine whether theory tests can be taken on-line remotely and what is required to do so.
I am pleased to inform you that the Driver Theory Test service has launched a pilot phase of a new initiative, which offers a Remote Testing service for specific categories of Theory Test (C, D, CD, BMT, TMT, ADI, CPCB and CPCT).
During the pilot phase Remote Testing will be available on a limited basis and extra capacity will be added as it is rolled out to allow more customers to sit their bus, truck, Certificate of Professional Competency (CPC) or Advanced Driver Instructor (ADI) Theory Test online. Remote Testing allows candidates to test from their home or another suitable environment once the minimum requirements for the service have been met.
Following a review of the pilot phase, the RSA expect the initiative to be extended for car and motorcycles. The RSA are keen to progress and extend the service to all categories of Driver Theory Test, however scaling up operations to facilitate higher numbers will take time to achieve.
