Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2025
210. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to inordinate delays for driving tests in Cork, with people waiting since October 2024 for the opportunity to book a test; the reason for these delays; if his Department will work with the Road Safety Authority to ensure that waiting times are reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5716/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra212. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to significant delays in a driving test centre (details supplied); the average wait time for a test at this location; the actions he will take to engage with the RSA to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5728/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the average wait time for a category B driving test for cars in a location (details supplied); the way this compares to other test centres across the country, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5729/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra219. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of current wait times for driving tests at test centres across the country, in tabular form. [5877/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra220. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of lengthy delays in driving tests at Skibbereen test centre in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5878/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra221. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the average length of time a person waits for a driving test nationwide; and the measures being taken to reduce that waiting period. [5936/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport the measures he plans to clear the backlog of driver test applications in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5949/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 210, 212, 213, 219, 220, 221 and 222 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes all application and scheduling matters.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputies' questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten days Pending this detailed response, to address the issue of driver testing waiting times, in September 2024 my Department sanctioned an additional 70 permanent positions for driver testers. This increases the total permanent sanction for testers to 200, which represents a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022. As a condition of sanction, my officials have requested that a plan is put in place to restore waiting times to 10 weeks as soon as possible. I understand that recruitment is well underway and additional capacity will enter the service in the coming months, helping to progressively reduce waiting times. Deputies may also wish to note that the RSA publish detailed monthly information on the driver testing service on the CSO website, including the breakdown of waiting times and distribution of testing capacity by test centre. This information is available at the following link: https://data.cso.ie/table/ROA36
