Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister of State to go back and speak to the RSA because what she said is not actually the case. The RSA has clearly said there is spare capacity currently as essential workers cannot sit the test because they have not completed their lessons. I am not trying to make a meal out of it, but I ask the Minister of State to go back to the RSA and confirm whether what I have outlined is the case. The issue of concern is NPHET's advice on essential workers being able to get their essential driver training, EDT, lessons. I seek clarity on that because if lessons could go ahead then the full testing capacity that is available could be used. I urge the Minister of State to follow up on the matter.

The RSA sought 80 additional testers to address the backlog. It outlined the difference 80 testers would make versus 40. Will the Minister of State provide the extra 40 testers?

See this speech in context