Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
253. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the reason or reasons for the high driving test waiting time (details supplied) in Killarney, County Kerry; what plans have been put in place to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37379/23]
View answer260. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport his plans to clear the backlog in Tralee and Killarney for driving tests (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37526/23]
View answer264. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport for an update on driving tests (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37598/23]
View answer268. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37602/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 260, 264 and 268 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the information requested relating to driver testing centres in County Kerry is held by that agency.
I have therefore referred those specific questions to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
On the broader issue of delays I would like to assure the Deputy that my officials and I are taking the issue very seriously and are working closely with the RSA to address it, which is negatively impacting many across the state.
The service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which has increased by 28% compared with 2021 figures. In response to these pressures, the earlier this year the RSA reviewed the capacity of the service and, following a request for additional resources, my Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200.
This recruitment is well underway and being managed by the Authority. However, a recruitment campaign of this size takes time. It is expected that once these additional testers are trained and deployed the backlog for driver testing services will be actively managed such that agreed service levels resume and wait times begin to decline. I have been advised by the Authority that the first newly recruited testers should be deployed in late September.
The additional testers will be assigned to fill current vacancies and otherwise allocated to centres with the highest demand for tests.
