Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

During the pandemic, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has delivered 52,569 driving tests, with no case of Covid-19 transmission attributed to a driving test. In line with the gradual reopening of services, driving tests for non-essential workers for those eligible to take the test and who have been waiting longest have recommenced to a limit of 2,000 per month. This relatively small number is a prudent step as we see what the health impact might be. I understand that, to date, the RSA has offered test bookings to over 2,500 candidates. Essential workers continue to be the priority. The reopening of essential driver training for this category means that more essential workers coming through the system will be looking for tests.

My Department is liaising with the RSA on an ongoing basis to meet the growing demand for tests. The RSA has a complement of 100 permanent driver testers. An additional 40 temporary driver testers have been authorised, along with 36 approved for retention or rehire in 2020. The additional testers are expected to start testing by the end of June. In addition, sanction is now being sought to add a further 40 testers to that cohort. We are going from 100 testers to approximately 220. The RSA is also seeking to increase the number of tests from six to seven per tester per day, as well as extending operating hours when restrictions are fully lifted.

The first 40 new testers are in training and the capacity of the service is just over 3,000 tests per week. While training is under way capacity per week is slightly reduced as testers who would otherwise be testing are involved in training new recruits. Assuming a successful return to seven tests per tester per day and with the 40 testers already approved, the capacity of the system will be 4,881 tests per week. If we are still at six tests per tester when the 40 testers begin, that figure will be 4,183. At this point, there are approximately 72,000 people eligible to take a test. With 4,881 tests weekly, it should be possible to clear that backlog in 15 weeks, allowing for those testers doing seven tests per day.

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