Driver Test

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023

Thursday, 22 June 2023

Questions (187)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

187. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport if provision will be made for the cost of resitting a driving test; and the efforts being made to reduce the waiting times for repeat tests. [30324/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

While the operation of the National Driving Test Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), I understand that in terms of re-tests, where someone is unsuccessful at their driving test and reapplies, the RSA fast-track their application and send them a new invitation to book a test 6-8 weeks after their unsuccessful attempt to originally pass their test. However, presently, there are some locations where this is longer. Once the invitation is sent it is the same as with a first-time test and the applicant can choose any available slot. 

On the broader matter of driving test waiting times, the service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which is up 28% on 2021 figures. However, I would like to assure the Deputy that my department is working closely with the RSA on addressing this issue.

The RSA having reviewed the capacity of the service to meet demand, and following a request for additional resources in March 2023, my department gave approval to the RSA for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200.

It is expected that once these additional driver testers are recruited, trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will start to reduce from October 2023 and agreed service levels should resume by early to mid-2024. The additional testers will be assigned to fill current vacancies and otherwise allocated to centres with the highest demand for tests. The recruitment process is currently under way. 

Regarding the cost of resitting a driving test, the cost of a retest and first-time test are currently the same and have been since 2010. I have no proposals to change the current fee.