Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Driving Tests.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

292 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the average waiting time for a driving test will be reduced to ten weeks; and if so, when this ten week target will be achieved. [24960/00]

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

Longest waiting times of about ten weeks are already being approached in some test centres and I anticipate that this level of service, as envisaged by my Department's quality service target, should be achieved nationally by September 2001.

A number of additional measures were introduced this year to deal with the record demand instanced in 2000. These include the recruitment of eight additional testers and a bonus scheme that will yield a net addition of 14,000 extra tests over a nine month period. These measures are in addition to the 37 additional testers, overtime working and productivity agreements already in place. My Department is also in the process of recruiting a further 20 contract testers.