Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
722. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if emergency or prioritised driver test appointments will be provided for persons that are essential carers and or essential workers and that urgently need to do a test in order to be able to drive legally but whose planned tests were cancelled due to Covid-19, in view of the planned lifting of many of the Covid-19 restrictions on 29 June 2020. [13368/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra732. 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 being able to graduate to a full licence; if special arrangements exist for emergency driver licence tests for persons in such circumstances. [13501/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 732 together.
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 has resumed on phased basis, beginning yesterday, 29 June. At present tests are being made available for trucks, buses and motorcycles,. It is planned to inroduce testing for cars, vans and minibuses in July before Phase 4 commences on 20 July, in line with the Goverment's revised plan for reopening the country.
The Road Safety Authority has always reserved a number of appointment slots for those in urgent need of a driving test, and will continue to do so when the driver testing service resumes.
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.
