Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
386. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons on waiting lists for driving tests in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath and nationwide to date; the length of time they have been waiting; the stage they are at in their application process, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38702/23]
View answer387. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport what his Department is doing to ease the driving test waiting times in Cavan and Monaghan presently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38703/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. Consequently, the detailed information requested is held by the RSA and I have referred the Deputy's questions 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 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.
