John Bruton
Ceist:126 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has to address the driving test backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6620/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 March 2004
126 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has to address the driving test backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6620/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra148 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address the driving test backlog; when he plans to introduce legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6601/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra150 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has to reduce the waiting time for a driving test in both the Waterford city and Dungarvan, County Waterford test centres to bring them in line with other test centres in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6520/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra168 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Transport the number of applicants awaiting driving tests at the latest date for which figures are available; the current waiting time in each test centre; the efforts his Department is making to clear the backlog of driving test applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6787/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 126, 148, 150 and 168 together.
The number of applicants awaiting a driving test at 25 February 2004 is 120,058. This is a reduction of some 5,000 on the figure relating to May 2003. Of these, 21,103 have been given test appointments and a further 13,715 have indicated that they are currently not available to be tested. The current average waiting time and numbers awaiting a test at each driving test centre as at 25 February 2004 is set out in the following table.
The current waiting times are due to the unprecedented level of some 234,000 test applications received in 2003. This represents a 21% increase on 2002 applications. However, indications are that applications have now fallen to normally expected levels. I anticipate that the current waiting times will improve over the coming year.
Sanction for a bonus scheme for driver testers was obtained from the Department of Finance in May 2003. Under the terms of the scheme set out by the Department of Finance, the bonus scheme terminated in November 2003. I have requested my officials to examine the potential for initiating a further bonus scheme in order to address the backlog.
In addition to the bonus scheme, eight retired driver testers were re-employed with effect from 13 October 2003. Driver testers continue to deliver additional tests by working overtime on Saturdays and at lunch time.
Preparation of legislation to establish the Driver Testing and Standards Authority, which will take on responsibility for conducting driving tests and will have more flexibility to respond to variations in demand, is at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position to submit the text of the Bill to Government shortly.
Centre |
Numbers awaiting a test |
Average weeks waiting |
North Leinster |
||
Finglas |
8,288 |
33 |
Dundalk |
2,948 |
38 |
Mullingar |
1,632 |
38 |
Navan |
4,463 |
44 |
Raheny |
7,337 |
43 |
South Leinster |
||
Churchtown /Rathgar |
11,212 |
40 |
Gorey |
1,985 |
39 |
Naas |
6,604 |
48 |
Tullamore |
1,632 |
35 |
Wicklow |
2,355 |
47 |
Tallaght |
8,811 |
49 |
West |
||
Athlone |
676 |
8 |
Birr |
938 |
28 |
Castlebar |
2,230 |
33 |
Clifden |
350 |
14 |
Ennis |
818 |
11 |
Galway |
2,643 |
30 |
Loughrea |
834 |
11 |
Roscommon |
902 |
26 |
Tuam |
1,105 |
29 |
North West |
||
Ballina |
1,153 |
29 |
Buncrana |
562 |
22 |
Carrick-on-Shannon |
1,212 |
38 |
Cavan |
1,948 |
44 |
Donegal |
1,021 |
29 |
Letterkenny |
1,843 |
30 |
Longford |
1,010 |
36 |
Monaghan |
1,248 |
41 |
Sligo |
1,347 |
27 |
South East |
||
Carlow |
2,522 |
43 |
Clonmel |
2,031 |
42 |
Dungarvan |
1,820 |
49 |
Kilkenny |
2,494 |
41 |
Nenagh |
728 |
43 |
Portlaoise |
1,512 |
39 |
Thurles |
1,286 |
46 |
Tipperary |
1,153 |
49 |
Waterford |
3,486 |
47 |
Wexford |
2,435 |
37 |
South West |
||
Cork |
6,615 |
31 |
Killarney |
1,988 |
36 |
Kilrush |
479 |
29 |
Limerick |
3,920 |
37 |
Mallow |
2,034 |
32 |
Newcastle West |
1,610 |
32 |
Shannon |
1,027 |
32 |
Skibbereen |
1,799 |
38 |
Tralee |
2,012 |
40 |
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.