Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
717. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driver tests will return in order to facilitate frontline workers that had provisional licences prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to graduate to a full licence; if special arrangements exist for emergency driver licence tests for persons in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13353/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the closure of services provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, regulations to extend the validity of number of documents, including the learner permit, were put in place. Any learner permits which were due to expire from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 inclusive have had their period of validity extended by 4 months.
The resumption of car driver testing raises particular problems in terms of compliance with the Protocol and in particular social distancing rules, as it requires the driver tester and the candidate to be within a two metre distance continuously for a period in excess of 20 minutes, in a very confined space which is not in itself a workplace under the control of the RSA.
I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that driver testing services resumed yesterday on a phased basis, in line with Phase 3 of the Government Roadmap. At present, driving tests are available for trucks, buses and motorcycles, with testing for cars, vans and minibus due to resume in July before Phase 4 commences on 20 July. Final dates for service resumption remain under discussion and are dependent on continued positive progression of the country against the overall Government roadmap.
The Road Safety Authority has always reserved a number of driving test slots each week for candidates who need a full driving licence urgently, and this service will continue after the resumption of the driving test service.
Any special arrangements which will need to be put into place to allow for the provision of the service, including the wearing of facemasks, are being determined in consultation with the relevant health authorities.
