Driver Test

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Questions (283)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

283. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons who are currently waiting to be called for driving tests in County Kerry, by test centre; the wait time for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1975/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the operation of the national driving test and the information requested is held by them. Therefore I have referred the relevant parts of the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

On the broader issue of driver testing delays, I am informed that the current increase in demand for driving tests and the time to invitation for learner drivers has a number of contributing factors which include: an increase in learner permits in circulation which has grown by about 30% since Q3 2019; increased capacity in the Driver Theory Test when the service resumed post Covid-19 pandemic and an increase in Advanced Driving Instructors capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers which has increased the volume of learners becoming eligible and ready to take their actual test.

I would like to assure the Deputy that the RSA is making every effort to address this issue. The Authority conducted a review of the current and evolving needs of the driver testing service in 2022, following which my Department sanctioned an increase in the permanent driver tester headcount from 100 to 130.

I am informed that the RSA is currently deploying a number of successful candidates across the driver testing service, with a focus on geographical areas with the longest waiting lists. It is expected that the remainder will be deployed by Q1 2023.

The RSA has assured me that they are keeping the situation under constant review and the Authority will report back to my Department on the steps being taken to continue to reduce waiting times. If sanction requests for further increases in driver testers are received, my Department will evaluate them promptly.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

I refer to Parliamentary Question 1975/23 regarding the number of persons who are currently waiting to be called for driving tests in County Kerry by test centre; the wait time for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Please see numbers below of customers waiting in County Kerry broken down by Test Centre as at December 31st 2022.

Test Centre	Waiting	Paused	Not Eligible	Total
Killarney	578	603	295	1630
Tralee	256	335	169	873

Terminology Scheduled -where an applicant has a test appointment date? Waiting -applicants who are eligible to sit their test and who will be invited once there are test slots available or who already have an open invitation to book themselves a test slot Paused - applicants who have been issued with an invitation to book a test but have not used it within 10 days Not eligible -customers who currently do not meet the eligibility criteria to sit their test, usually have learner permit less than 6 months or have not completed all mandatory Essential Driver Training (EDT)

The estimated wait time to invitation for a person who applied on December 31st 2022 for Killarney Driving Test Centre is 25 weeks and Tralee Driving Test Centre is 21 weeks.

For further information on Road Safety please visit our website at https://www.rsa.ie