Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise with the Minister the driving test backlog. There are 12-month waiting lists for driving tests. I understand there was a safety issue with physical driving tests at the height of Covid but as we emerge from the pandemic, the Minister needs to provide staff to catch up. Approximately 100,000 people are waiting for driving tests. The Road Safety Authority sought 80 extra driver testers and I understand 40 were provided. Perhaps the Minister will confirm that. This is holding people up. The suspension of the theory test does not make sense. The test could be done in cubicles or online. It should never have been suspended during Covid-19.

I also raise the issue of testing for motorcyclists, one of whom told me he cannot do the driving test because of Covid. I failed to figure out how someone could catch Covid on a motorbike. Driving tests for motorcyclists seem to be suspended also. Perhaps the Minister will clarify this. It is causing major problems in counties Laois and Offaly for those who need a licence and car for work, especially those who live in rural areas of the midlands who do not have public transport.

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