Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 28 Jan 1999

Vol. 499 No. 2

Written Answers. - Driving Tests.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

34 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of applications for a driving test currently outstanding; the current average waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2152/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Some 87,000 applicants are at present awaiting driving tests. Of these, approximately 18,000 have been given test appointments and a further 8,500 have indicated that they are not currently available to be tested.

The national average waiting period for a driving test is now some 27 weeks. However, appli cants who require a test for urgent reasons, are being given earlier appointments. At present some 30 per cent of applicants are being tested within 15 weeks.

As indicated in reply to Question No. 264 of 24 November 1998, my Department is responding to this unsatisfactory situation by increasing the numbers and productivity of its driver testers. Saturday testing has been in place for some time and a further package of productivity measures has also been implemented. The service is also being augmented by the appointment of new driver testers on both a permanent and contract basis.