Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2021
13. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport when he expects driver tests to resume for persons that have completed the EDT; if additional driving instructors will be recruited to eliminate the backlog when tests resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22365/21]
View answerDuring the level 5 period, driving tests will be available only to those who are involved in essential services, including essential retail work. The Road Safety Authority offers driving tests to those who have completed their required 12 Essential Driver Training lessons and can produce evidence that they are an essential worker, in accordance with Government definitions. No exceptions can be made.
While I fully appreciate the inconvenience this poses, I must emphasise, that these decisions have 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.
Any decision regarding the reopening of the services will be determined in consultation with the relevant health authorities.
Officials both in my Department and in the Road Safety Authority are keeping the public health situation under constant review and are working extremely hard to ensure that services can resume as soon as it is safe to do so. The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time, and in this as in all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis, my Department will be guided by NPHET and national experts.
The RSA is making good progress in recruiting an additional 40 driver testers, that were sanctioned by my Department and the expectation is that they will be available to conduct tests by the end of June 2021. In addition to the existing complement of driver testers, this will add much needed capacity to the
service .
Approved Driving Instructors (ADIS) are entirely independent operators. It remains down to individual driving schools and instructors to meet the demand for lessons as they see fit when normal service resumes.
