Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
307. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the measures he intends on taking to address the 37-week wait in accessing a driving test in Cork city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38038/23]
View answer308. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if staffing levels will be increased in the driving test centres in Cork to reduce the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38039/23]
View answer309. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport when he expects that the average waiting time for an invitation to a driving test will be reduced back down to ten-weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38040/23]
View answer310. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action is being taken to increase the number of staff employed at driving test centres in order to reduce the waiting time backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38041/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 307 to 310, inclusive, together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Driving Test Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the information requested relating to Driving Test centres in Cork is held by that organisation. I therefore referred those specific questions to the RSA 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, 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 Authority reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service earlier this year 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 campaign is well underway and is being managed by the Authority. However, a 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 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 driver testers will be deployed across the driver testing service with a focus on the geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.
