Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
180. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the way in which the backlog of learner driver theory tests will be dealt with given that many have had their test date rescheduled up to four times in the past year such as a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23874/21]
View answerThe Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed.
Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. The RSA recognise that it will take time to meet this demand and restore pre-COVID-19 waiting times when the service does reopen.
In response to this, the RSA will introduce an increase in capacity within the service when it is allowed to re-open. This additional capacity will see the number of tests increase from an average pre Covid19 output of 15,000 tests per month to 50,000 per month when the service resumes. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog of customers.
A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. The rollout of this option to theory tests for cars is planned to begin shortly. There will be a limit on the number of customers that can avail of the service during the initial rollout phase, but work is ongoing to make online services more widely available towards the end of 2021.
