Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 October 2023
73. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport what measures are being put in place to increase driving test capacity to address the long delays experienced by learner drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43144/23]
View answerThe driver testing 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 Authority 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. Recruitment is underway and being managed by the Authority. I have been advised that the first tranche of new recruits were deployed in September, coinciding with a small reduction in average wait times. The additional driver testers are being allocated across the driver testing service with a focus on the geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.It is expected that once the full complement of additional driver testers are trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will decline and the agreed service level of average wait times of 10 weeks or less will resume by the middle of 2024.
