asked the Minister for the Environment the number of driving tests carried out at the Driving Test Centre in Skibbereen, County Cork, for the year ending 31 December 1988; the number of such tests carried out to date in the year 1989; the number at present on the waiting list for tests to be carried out at such a centre; the total amount of fees lodged by those on the waiting list; whether the appointment of a full time driving tester at this centre would be self-financing; and if so, if he will make arrangements accordingly for such full-time appointment.
Written Answers. - Driving Tests.
78.
One thousand and forty four driving tests were conducted from the Skibbereen test centre in 1988 and 690 to date in 1989. 662 applicants, who have paid fees totalling £12,578, are currently awaiting tests from that centre.
On the basis of the present intake of applications, approximately 17 per week, a full-time tester for this centre would not be warranted. The current waiting period is about 39 weeks which is close to the average for the country as a whole. Further testers will be assigned shortly to the Skibbereen test centre in order to reduce the number on the waiting list.
There are 48 driver testers throughout the country. Recently, four extra staff were redeployed to driver testing duties and these are now being trained. I have made arrangements to recruit further testers to bring the permanent corps up to 60 and additional temporary testers on a contract basis in order to reduce the waiting periods for tests to an acceptable level as soon as practicable.