Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
276. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking regarding waiting times for driving tests (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37727/23]
View answer381. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for driving tests (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38688/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 381 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). However, I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is working very closely with the RSA on addressing the issue of driver testing waiting times.
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, earlier this year the RSA reviewed the capacity of the driver testing 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 RSA. However, a recruitment campaign of this size takes time. It is expected that once these additional driver testers are trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will be actively managed such that wait times begin to decline and agreed service levels ultimately resume. I have been advised by the RSA that the first newly recruited testers should be deployed from late September.
The additional driver testers will be deployed across the driver testing service with a focus on those geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.
