Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2025
243. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to various instances of driving tests being delayed in some cases for several months; if he will instruct his Department to take necessary steps to ensure these delays are reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13597/25]
View answer267. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14093/25]
View answer268. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport to examine a driving test application for a person (details supplied) as he is waiting over six months for a test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14106/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 267 and 268 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes all application and scheduling matters. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputies' questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten days. Pending this detailed response, on the issue of delays in obtaining a driving test more generally, I acknowledge that current waiting times are far in excess of what is acceptable and I would like to assure the Deputies that measures have been taken to address the issue. To support the RSA in increasing testing capacity and improving service delivery, in September 2024 my Department sanctioned an additional 70 permanent positions for driver testers. This increases the total permanent sanction for testers to 200, which represents a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022. As a condition of sanction, the RSA was required to put a plan in place to restore the 10-week waiting time target as soon as possible. I understand that recruitment is well underway, with offers being made to successful candidates . The first tranche of new testers started their training this month. As additional testers progressively enter the system and increase testing capacity, I expect that we will begin to see progress on reducing waiting times in the months ahead.
