Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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153. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30935/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.

My Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA as they deal with the increased demand for their driver testing service since operations resumed following its temporary closure due to the COVID emergency. In addition to this, due to the social distancing requirements, normal daily capacity is considerably reduced. This means that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended. The public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.

It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a driving test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30936/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.

My Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA as they deal with the increased demand for their driver testing service since operations resumed following its temporary closure due to the COVID emergency. In addition to this, due to the social distancing requirements, normal daily capacity is considerably reduced. This means that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended. The public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.

It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 209 of 6 October 2020, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that none of the fully licensed drivers, such as instructors, parents or guardians, that he referred to in the reply are allowed shelter, use toilets or hand washing facilities at the RSA driving test centres; and if his further attention has been drawn to that fact that this is in stark contrast to NCT centres that have set up to allow persons to wait in a socially distant and safe manner indoors in their centres. [30940/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am aware of the recent closure of washing facilities and waiting rooms at driving test centres due to current public health restrictions.

Operational arrangements at test centres, including the availability of waiting and washing facilities, are a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I understand from the Authority that, given the rise in confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country and the general tightening of public health restrictions more generally, the current policy is unlikely to be relaxed in the near future. These protocols have been developed on the basis of the general Return to Work Safely Protocol agreed by employers and unions and also based on guidance from the relevant public and occupational health authorities. I am sure that the Deputy would not wish a public sector employer such as the Road Safety Authority to put in place arrangements which were at variance with such guidance.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if assistance will be provided in securing a driver test for a person (details supplied) to enable them to continue to work. [30946/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.

My Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA as they deal with the increased demand for their driver testing service since operations resumed following its temporary closure due to the COVID emergency. In addition to this, due to the social distancing requirements, normal daily capacity is considerably reduced. This means that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended. The public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.

It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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157. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which a person (details supplied) will receive a driver test. [30956/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.

My Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA as they deal with the increased demand for their driver testing service since operations resumed following its temporary closure due to the COVID emergency. In addition to this, due to the social distancing requirements, normal daily capacity is considerably reduced. This means that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended. The public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.

It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.