Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the backlog in the driver theory test and driving tests, which must be dealt with as a matter of urgency. I appreciate the Government has decided to take a very safe, gradual and phased approach to reopening some driver test centres through the RSA, which commenced on 10 May. That is welcome. However, learner drivers across counties Cavan and Monaghan are becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress. As things stand, only essential workers can sit the driving test and the same applies to people wanting to take driving lessons. Many constituents of mine, and their parents, have contacted my office about this. Parents ultimately take the brunt of this in constituencies like Cavan-Monaghan where we do not have the same public transport infrastructure as elsewhere. If young people do not have that mode of transport to get to work, college or wherever they need to go, parents have to take them. I ask that particular resources be put into the Cavan and Monaghan area to address this.

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