Pearse Doherty
Question:456. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if a driver test will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20807/21]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
456. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if a driver test will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20807/21]
View answerUnder Covid19 Level 5 Government restrictions, candidates can attend their driving test appointment provided they are an essential worker involved in the provision of essential services or essential retail outlets. Details on what is included in the list of essential workers and retail outlets can be found at www.gov.ie.
The Road Safety Authority offers driving tests to those who can produce evidence that they are an essential worker, in accordance with Government definitions. A job offer is not included in this definition. No exceptions can be made.
I fully appreciate the difficulties that this poses for certain learners. 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.
Officials both in my Department and in the Road Safety Authority are working extremely hard to ensure that driver testing can return to normal capacity as soon as it is safe to do so.