Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 1

Written Answers - Driving Tests.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

246 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the current backlog in processing driving test applications; the backlog in reissuing licences; the average waiting time at each test centre for a test; the numbers awaiting a test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8913/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

The average waiting times and numbers awaiting a driving test at each test centre, as at 31 March 2003, are set out as follows. The average waiting time nationally for candidates undertaking a test is 12 weeks. The numbers waiting do not include some 6,500 applications for driving tests received since 21 March 2003 which remain to be entered on the driver testing computer database. Under the Road Traffic Act 1961 and the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 1999 to 2001, it is a matter for the appropriate licensing authority to determine the eligibility of a person for a driving licence, and to issue licences.

Test Centre	Numbers Waiting	Weeks Waiting
Athlone	1,239	7
Ballina	1,226	13
Birr	1,113	10
Buncrana	468	12
Carlow	2,345	14
Carrick-on-Shannon	1,107	16
Castlebar	2,194	15
Cavan	2,059	15

Test Centre	Numbers Waiting	Weeks Waiting
Churchtown/Rathgar	10,818	11
Clifden	418	11
Clonmel	2,007	13
Cork	7,663	11
Donegal	1,008	13
Dundalk	3,061	10
Dungarvan	1,560	13
Ennis	982	9
Finglas	8,901	11
Galway	2,466	11
Gorey	2,112	11
Kilkenny	2,607	14
Killarney	1,946	13
Kilrush	580	10
Letterkenny	1,430	9
Limerick	3,600	12
Longford	1,104	14
Loughrea	1,237	9
Mallow	2,235	13
Monaghan	1,308	17
Mullingar	1,822	11
Naas	6,291	14
Navan	4,458	14
Newcastle West	1,781	14
Portlaoise	1,622	16
Raheny	6,837	12
Roscommon	1,086	12
Shannon	966	12
Skibbereen	1,757	15
Sligo	1,318	11
Tallaght	9,090	11
Thurles	1,188	18
Tipperary	1,108	14
Tralee	2,093	14
Tuam	1,279	10
Tullamore	1,841	9
Waterford	3,563	15
Wexford	2,506	12
Wicklow	2,513	11
Total	122,776

Note: The average waiting time is derived having regard to waiting times, experienced by individual applicants who have undergone a driving test over the previous four week period in the test centre.