Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
400. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the status of driver tests; the number of backlog applications waiting for a driver test in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19757/21]
View answerDetails on the waiting times for driving tests in County Kerry are held by the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this part of the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
The driving test service is not currently operating as normal due to the impact of Covid-19. Tests are only available, under Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, to essential workers.
I fully appreciate the difficulties that this poses for learners and I can assure the Deputy that driving tests for all candidates will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. I must emphasise, however, that this decision has been taken in line with official public health recommendations that everyone in Ireland work to limit the spread of the virus by staying at home in so far as is possible and minimising social contacts.
My Department is liaising with the RSA on an ongoing basis to help the service meet the growing demand for tests within the current public health situation. An additional 40 driver testers have been authorised by the Minister along with 36 approved for retention or rehire in 2020.
The provision of extra testers will not on its own suffice to address the problem. One of the difficulties is with the capacity of test centres themselves, given limits on throughput due to Covid restrictions. The RSA is therefore looking at creating additional temporary centres to help in addressing the backlog when normal service can resume.
The RSA are also looking at a number of other measures, including whether the number of tests a driver tester can perform each day can be increased. Any decision on this matter will be guided by health protocols.
Until Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions have been eased, no progress can be made on addressing the backlog; however, the Road Safety Authority has plans in place for when the service is allowed to resume for all learner permit holders to be tested at the earliest possible date, and a gradual return of driving test times to their pre-Covid levels.
